ACES WARY OF STRUGGLING BUT DANGEROUS HOTSHOTS
Alaska coach Alex Compton feels they’re facing a tough, tough challenge on Wednesday as they play the Star Hotshots at a time they should better be avoided.
“I don’t know that there is a time that Purefoods is more dangerous than now,” said Compton, wary of coach Tim Cone and his troops that should be aching to come out and dish out their best to avert further slide.
“They are champions and they have been in this position before. We expect a long, tough, intense, tiring battle, and we know that we will have to bring our best effort if we expect to have a chance to win,” Compton also said.
The Aces try to hang on at second place as they tangle with the Hotshots in the PBA Governors’ Cup 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots can really be very dangerous, having dropped three straight losses to the GlobalPort Batang Pier (89-91), the Meralco Bolts (81-83) and the San Miguel Beermen (89-100).
Star main man James Yap could be due for a big game any time now. He’s averaging just 9.5 points, unable to score more than 12 in a game in the season-ending tourney.
Actually, only one local Hotshot averages in double figures. Alex Mallari norms 12.0 points while also putting in 3.0 rebounds and 3.25 assists an outing.
At this point, Cone said it’s better to do the talking on the floor.
“I think we’re all kind of talked out. There’s not a whole lot left to say, but there’s a lot of doing to be done,” he said. “We’re hopeful we can show up and get things done and come out with a win. We can’t afford to fall behind any further.”
Star is in a precarious position at 1-3.
Alaska, on the other hand, is right behind the leader at 3-1, following victories over Blackwater (106-80), Barangay Ginebra (108-99) and Rain or Shine (94-93) and a mere one-point loss to Talk n Text (103-104).
But Compton has the right reasons to be wary of the Hotshots, a team they didn’t beat in three matches last conference.
The Hotshots whipped the Aces in those games by a whopping average of 17 points, sweeping their best-of-three quarterfinals series – 120-86 and 96-89 – to advance to the semifinals. (SB)
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