EXPRESS TEST METTLE OF COMPTON, ACES
ALASKA coach Alex Compton is not one to hog the limelight, even if his sudden tenure as Alaska head coach got off on the right foot.
“We have a system in place,” said Compton, referring to the style of play instituted by erstwhile head coach Luigi Trillo which he largely credited for the Aces’ win last Monday.
Compton hastens to add it’s really not about him. “Hindi naman ako yung henyo na alam ko lahat iyan,” he pointed out.
“I need the coaches, the staff, the players.”
For sure Compton would again need all the help he and the entire Alaska team could get when it takes on an Air21 crew bristling to get back on the right track 5:45 p.m. Friday in the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Each team is looking for a third win in four outings that would ensure it stays among the top four, a position that carries with it a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals following the nine-game eliminations.
The urgency is more so for Air21 since it is coming off a 76-84 loss to Barangay Ginebra last Tuesday.
In order to bounce back in a big way the Express must give Dominique Sutton more all-around help and they as a whole should rediscover the big finishing kick they showed so well in opening up the season-ending tournament with back-to-back wins.
Against Ginebra, Air21 was limited to just 13 points in the fourth quarter. Sutton wound up with 22 points and 19 rebounds but Macmac Cardona and Asi Taulava were the only locals who finished in double figures.
Alaska had no such problems when it gifted Compton with a 103-91 win over Talk N Text.
True, the Tropang Texters played without an import then, but the system Compton was referring to resulted in a consistent, steady game by the Aces that netted them no less than 23 points each quarter off better shot selections.
Bill Walker scored 27 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds and his all-around game was augmented by the likes of jayvee Casio, Sonny Thoss, Cyrus Baguio and Gabby Espinas.
Whether Alaska can do so again or Air21, which made its first-ever semifinals appearance the last conference, can continue making heads turn remain the biggest questions. (NC)
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