Alaska Aces: The Mantle of the Bat

Luigi Trillo: Rightful Successor

In the Alaska Aces' storied franchise history, Tim Cone would be its Bruce Wayne a.k.a. The Batman. Though he has severed all ties and moved on with his coaching career, he will always be the man that brought the team to prominence. The 13 titles that he won for the Aces in the course of over 20 years will remain untouched. No matter how they broke-up, it is what it is.

But just like in the comic book world, there are always successors-- both unworthy and worthy. Dick Grayson, Jason Tood and Tim Drake. All three wore the bright colored Robin costume at one point or another. In reference, Grayson would be Joel Banal. He has all the tools to succeed Cone, but he was his own man. He had his own style, and last year it showed that it just wasn't a good fit.


Jojo Lastimosa would be Todd. The prodigal son. The one who thinks highly of himself with no or few peers. The Aces were right in not letting him coach this team as his ego would probably and most likely rub some of the players the wrong way. It's the same with Todd, who never got to inherit the mantle even during the Batman R.I.P. arc (went to Grayson, just like it went to Banal).

So that left team owner Wilfred Uytengsu and the rest of the Aces' upper brass with the hard-working Luigi Trillo. He was starting to win games in the PBA D-League after an abysmal showing as a two-season loser in the UAAP with the Adamson Falcons (he coached more seasons, but is infamous for the last two years wherein they failed to notch a single victory).

See, Tim Drake had every little thing that Dick Grayson could do down pat. Grayson was more athletic thanks to his acrobatic training with the Haley Circus, but Drake was the better detective akin or at par with Wayne.

Alternately, Trillo doesn't have the pedigree of a Joel Banal or even the experience and winning tradition instilled in Lastimosa. All he knew or had was hard work and loyalty. The bosses wanted them to run the Triangle Offense, Trillo knew how to run it but was sure to add to it.

Just as Drake instilled the help of the Teen Titans, Trillo would seek out college coaches Louie Alas, Topex Robinson and even brilliant basketball mind and former MBA superstar Alex Compton to help with the coaching chores.

Now, after a rough start in last season's PBA Governor's Cup, Trillo was able to come through for the Aces and reward their trust and faith in him. Tonight, the Aces have exorcised all their demons while still remembering and nodding to the good old days.

Who knows just how far Trillo will be able to bring the Aces? They have a young and bright core with the correct mindset (which says a lot given that they have a rookie named Calvin Abueva in the fold), so winning another title or more is possible. Will they win 13 more? Who knows?

The only thing we do know, is that after tonight's PBA Commissioner's Cup championship-clinching victory, Trillo has earned the right to be called the head coach of the Alaska Aces and the one true successor to the Mantle of the Bat (Cone).