Phoenix, Alaska cross paths in crucial stretch
So close, yet so far away.
Phoenix and Alaska can almost feel it, the comforts of securing a playoff berth in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup.
But they’re still not there yet, needing more wins to secure their place among the top eight. And on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena, they try to inch closer when they face each other at 3 p.m.
The Fuel Masters are just on a roll since acquiring Eugene Phelps. Currently on a three-game winning streak, they have also won five of their last six outings.
Coach Ariel Vanguardia would not deny that all of that should be attributed to the high-scoring import, as they sit at solo fifth with a 5-4 card.
“Hulog ng langit talaga sa amin si Phelps,” he said.
But Vanguardia knows that making it to the quarterfinals necessitates more contribution from his locals, as Phoenix seeks to make an argument and nab a top four spot which comes with a twice-to-beat advantage.
Alaska, meanwhile, has just gotten itself out of the gutter, forcing a tie with Rain or Shine at the eighth spot at 4-5.
What’s working, though, for coach Alex Compton is that his players have slowly gotten out of their funk fro.early in the conference and has clamped down on defense, with import LaDontae Henton finally finding a way to blend in with the locals.
“It’s what we talked always: defense,” he said.
But Compton is still not satisfied yet, as he knows it will take more of that for the Aces to make it to the top eight, and he needs to find that next gear when Alaska takes on Phoenix.
“Phelps is a horse and coach Ariel is one hell of a coach. It’s going to be a tough one for us,” he said.
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