Never Quit Squad

Remember that Ludacris song...
(Photo credit to the owner)

Perhaps there is no more arduous a task than to find entertainment in a full 48-minute basketball game that does not feature your favorite PBA team.

Unless of course Head Coach Alex Compton and his Alaska Aces are playing. Now THAT's must see TV.

Hailed as the “new comeback kids” of the sport (or as per Aces’ big boss Wilfred Uytengsu puts it the “Never Quit Squad”), the Aces are actually off to an impressive start this PBA Philippine Cup despite last night’s loss to Ginebra. Currently with a 3 wins 1 loss slate, the Aces are winning games in all kinds of fashion: come from behind, blowouts, grit-and-grind and even shootouts.

You name it and the Aces can play it—and then some.

It is interesting to note that the Aces are playing their roster from guys 1 to 12, with cameos from 13 to 15. Guards JVee Casio and Cyrus Baguio are tied at most minutes played with 26 a piece, while the 12th man that we were referring to is sniper Dondon Hontiveros who is averaging only 14 minutes a game (but scoring 8 points per). Based on statistics alone, the Aces are winning thanks to a more balanced attack led by Vic Manuel (21 mpg 17 ppg 8 rpg), Calvin Abueva (22 mpg 15 ppg 10 rpg), Casio (11 ppg), Sonny Thoss (22 mpg 9 ppg 5 rpg) and Hontiveros (14 mpg 8 ppg). Of course, it would be rather unfair to say that only the above mentioned guys are putting in the work, since the rest of the pack are contributing just as well—Chris Banchero, Ping Exciminiano and even Noy Baclao (who we’ve already dismissed as a PBA Draft top pick bust at this point in his career).

And don’t you dare forget Tony de la Cruz (unless you want to get fired lol).

Here are some of the things that we have grown to enjoy about the Aces:

Effort, energy and hustle

Other players take games off. It is only natural. It is hard to find motivation on a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly basis. What more from a job that requires you to get “hit” by grown ass men on a regular basis?

The Beast and The Muscleman

The under-sized combo of Abueva and Manuel, who are averaging double-doubles as though they both stood 6”10. They are basically the heart and soul of the Aces at the moment: combining grit, hustle, street smarts with actual basketball skill. This is a feel good story for the two and even the Aces in general, since they are probably the most un-Alaska-like players to ever wear the red and white. Basically, you can call them the Sons of Hugnatan.

JVee Casio, the shooting guard

Finally. 

Coming off screens. Shooting on fast breaks. Catch and shoot. Doesn't care if his teammates are in position or not.

God mode, clutch mode, JVee.

Good times.

Alex Compton and his tah-gah-lowg

Never gets old. Love listening to him ever since someone put a mic on him even back in the Metropolitan Basketball Association.

Cebuano Hotshot

He is the Pinoy Ray Allen. If Allen were still playing. Pinoy Vino. 8 points in 14 minutes? God-like.

Now this team would be perfect in our book, but we are still waiting for Cap'n Tony to retire.

That Ginebra loss was blah. Kudos to the Aces for taking the high road on that one.

Are you not entertained?