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| Calvin Abueva. Luigi Trillo Guy. (Photo courtesy of Sports5) |
They're rough, they're not your typical, cookie-cutter, clean-cut Alaska Aces of past and present. They come with a certain level of self-assurance and air that rubs people the wrong way most of the time.
They're all Luigi Trillo guys (plus, maybe when he finally gets his minutes, Ryan Buenafe).
Only, what happens now that Trillo has opted to leave his post as Aces head coach (just a season removed from leading the team to a surprise PBA Commissioner's Cup championship)? Will the Aces' proud management opt to keep them in the fold? Or trade them elsewhere if only to fit the way the Aces' have been traditionally known for?
Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to why Trillo left. Was he forced out because of the Aces' recent struggles and failure to build on last season's title romp? Did the PBA spotlight take its toll on him (doubtful, because the guy endured a lengthy, losing coaching career in the UAAP through the Adamson Falcons-- which I cheered for time and again, from the Mark Abadia to Leo Canuday to the destructive CabaBono era)? Was a better offer made to him somewhere (you do realise that there are THREE new teams coming in, as well as a rumoured opening for assistant coach over with former Alaska coach and Trillo mentor Tim Cone at San Mig Coffee)?
Back to Trillo and the Luigi Trillo Guys.
See, last season, Trillo could've easily gone on several interviews to say: "MY NAME IS LUIGI TRILLO AND MY CLIENT, CALVIN ABUEVA, CONQUERED THE PBA."
He was that good a coach. Abueva was that great a talent. And the Aces were that good a team.
But instead of building on that title run in the 2nd conference, the Aces faltered and sort of reached a plateau-- which is taboo when it comes to staying competitive in the PBA and-- for coaches, keeping their jobs.
Thinking like a conspiracy theorist, we wouldn't be surprised if Trillo's resignation was born out of a deal of sorts with Aces' owner Wilfred Uytengsu. That Trillo was given a free hand to change it all-- Alaska's image be damned, if they could start winning again. Trillo did just that, but was unable to deliver. The stick was probably a short one, Trillo was walking a very thin line with all the semantics courtesy of Abueva, Gabby Espinas and co.
More and more the Aces felt and played like a new age Ginebra/ Rain or Shine rather than the Alaska that Uytengsu has spent years of building up. Trillo was the guy behind it all. Every one knew of this.
So when they couldn't deliver, when Trillo couldn't win with his Luigi Trillo Guys anymore and would instead go repeatedly on the media to say that his players, his team isn't being allowed to play the same way as when they won the title, well, the owner wouldn't have it.
So out went Trillo, and in comes a cookie-cutter, Alaska prototype kind of coach in Alex Compton.
But that's just the conspiracy theorist in us talking.
Having followed Compton's playing career in the MBA (and when he accepted playing as an import in the PBA for a few seasons), we're not going to complain about his appointment/ promotion (could've been worse, they could've brought in Jojo Lastimosa as head coach and hear him talk about himself and what he would've done in every single timeout and side court interview).
But will Compton be able to get the most off Abueva, Espinas and Manuel? Will he loosen the reins on Abueva, who has struggled his second season instead of risen to near-MVP ranks? Will Espinas be as effective on the block and Manuel to get enough love in the paint?
For the Aces' part, we do hope that they stick to the roster and give it a few more conferences. They have the young players who are winners by trade plus a reliable anchor in Sonny Thoss. The last thing this franchise needs is another shake-up, when it's been proven the last five years that teams that have been together and have that undeniable sense of camaraderie and familiarity, often end up as champions.
What do you think will happen to the Luigi Trillo Guys? Will any of them be traded before season's end?
I dunno whats gonna happen to luigi, but what i think, they need a coach that can make the beast, BEAST again. And if they are gonna trade him, it better be one of the pba's best in return.
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