Alaska seeks to sustain hot start vs Mahindra, Ginebra in Dubai

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Two teams are hoping to secure their confidence both at the expense interestingly of another team that’s seeking to sustain its hot start in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup.

That’s precisely the scenario in a pair of Dubai games featuring the Mahindra Enforcers, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Alaska this Friday and Saturday.

Of the three, it will be the Aces who are faced with the daunting task of having to play two straight games in their bid to keep their hot streak going in the tournament.

The Aces tackle the Enforcers first at 8 p.m. (12 midnight Manila time) this Friday at the Al Wasl Stadium, then return to the same venue on the same time the next day to play the Gin Kings.

Both the Enforcers and the Gin Kings have dropped their first two outings in the kickoff conference, and that should be enough motivation for them to give their all against the Aces who are riding on the momentum of back-to-back victories they pulled off against Talk ‘N Text (114-98) and Blackwater (87-79).

The Enforcers lost to the Elasto Painters (108-94) last Oct. 25, and Talk ‘N Text (101-97) last Oct. 31, and on both occasions, they had shown that they can no longer be taken for granted.

The Gin Kings are also in a bad start, dropping their first two outings as they continue to grope for form under a new system being implemented by coach Tim Cone.

The Enforcers and the Aces left Tuesday morning via Singapore Airlines for the trip to that progressive, most populous city in United Arab Emirates, while the Gin Kings will proceed Wednesday morning aboard the same airline.

The PBA officials, headed by chief executive officer Chito Salud, deputy commissioner Rickie Santos and media bureau head Willie Marcial, along with the game and technical officials who will conduct the games, are to leave at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday via Emirates.

Commissioner Chito Narvasa will fly to Dubai right after attending to the games at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

Salud meanwhile expressed his deep appreciation of the Aces’ acceptance to play back-to-back games like what Rain or Shine did when the league also held two games in that business hub of the middle east.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Alaska Aces sa pagpayag nilang maglaro ng back-to-back official games. Alam kong gagawin nila ito para sa ating mga kababayan sa UAE,” said Salud.

Salud said that bringing games overseas is one way of saying thanks to the thousands of enduring OFWs whose dollar remittances contribute dramatically to the economic growth of the country.

“It is one of our ways of saying thank you to these countrymen of ours who endure loneliness and at times, even hostile working conditions to be able to support their families back home and of course country through their remittances,” said Salud.

“Without fail, the PBA is always rewarded by the warmest reception one can receive pre, during, and post game. And Dubai ranks up there when it comes to the intensity of reception the PBA gets everytime we go there,” he added.

Fans there will also get the chance to see their ring idol in Manny Pacquiao who will accompany the Mahindra Enforcers in what will be the team’s first official sortie overseas since joining the Asia’s first play-for-pay league last season.

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