LOOKING AHEAD
ALASKA coach Luigi Trillo believes a deliberate downgrading of a game has its traps. “We may set ourselves up for a fall if we don’t play hard,” he said.
He was specifically referring to his Aces’ rematch with GlobalPort Friday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The game is a no-bearing one for Alaska since it has already sealed its No. 1 ranking by virtue of a 102-93 repeat over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last Wednesday. Even if the Aces lose and get tied by Rain or Shine at the top, the former would still be eliminations topnotcher due to a higher quotient.
Cellar-dwelling GlobalPort has also been eliminated from the playoffs race as early as last Saturday. Even if the Batang Pier win Friday and over Barako Bull Sunday, those would still not be enough to push them through.
So GlobalPort would only be trying to rescue what it can from the tournament before formally making an early exit for the second straight time in as many conferences with the league.
“We will play and see if we can still salvage a little honor for ourselves. To exit this conference with our confidence still intact, that we can regroup and rebound for the next conference,” said Batang Pier coach Junel Baculi.
Also looking ahead is Trillo although his sights are lower, currently trained as they are on gearing up his charges for the quarterfinals that start next week. “Against GlobalPort we’ll treat it the same way we did our other games,” he said after the Ginebra game.
“This (win) gives us an opportunity to give minutes to some guys, get them ready for the playoffs. We took care of business now and that gives us the opportunity to put some new plays in, give some minutes to the guys who are deserving.”
Even the Uytengsu franchise emerging as eliminations topnotcher in an import-flavored tournament for the first time in 14 years, or since the 1999 Commissioner’s Cup, does not thrill Trillo that much.
“Being No. 1 doesn’t really mean anything,” he noted.
“It gives you a twice-to-win advantage but it doesn’t guarantee anything. I remember (B-Meg) losing to Powerade twice last year. So it’s a nice advantage, but a team still needs to win one (more) to make the semifinals.”
The way his Aces seemed to have fully progressed pleases Trillo more.
“This team is growing,” he stated. “In the last conference we were 8-6 after the elims. This conference is the result of the collective effort by a group of individuals. This is a bit of Cy (Baguio), Rob (Dozier), Jayvee (Casio) and Sonny and all the other guys, too. We need that to be deep.
“Teams which are not deep enough will have a hard time in a Game 5 or a Game 7. We’ve built up a lot of confidence with the lineup we have.”
That doesn’t mean there will be any let-up in their style of play, Trillo hastily added.
“You want to keep on and not lower your guard. You want to play to your potential,” he stressed. (NC)
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