Compton inspired by Cone’s quote on defense from years back
Several years ago, Alex Compton was still learning the ropes as the man with the pen and the clipboard while Tim Cone was already one of the respected coaches in the league with a PBA Grand Slam under his belt.
Cone was invited by Compton and coach Eric Altamirano to speak at one the National Basketball Training Camp where the Alaska coach would hear a quote that would stick to his mind until 2015.
“It was five or six years ago, we at the NBTC invited coach Tim as a speaker,” Compton recalled. “He said ‘defense is about character.'”
“As a young coach, it left an impression on me and I believe it’s true. Our defense really got us going in the second half. We showed our character.”
Fast forward to July 3, Compton’s Alaska Aces manhandled Cone’s Star Hotshots 95-74 to get a 2-0 series lead in their best-of-five semifinals series in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Alaska held Star to 26-of-68 shooting, 38 percent, while the Aces shot a more respectable 42-of-78 or 54 percent.
But shooting wasn’t the Hotshots’ only problem.
They were also outworked in the rebounding department as the Aces outrebounded them 49-32.
“Most people look at the glory boys, the best player is always the scorer,” Compton said, but it was his team’s defense which propelled them.”
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