What now, Alaska?

DEFIANT
(Photo credit: Spin.ph)

Following yesterday’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Game 6 defeat at the hands of the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, a friend of ours over at Twitter said that this latest predicament does not hurt as much for the Alaska Aces’ #GatasRepublik .

She even joked about how they have lost so many times on that stage that they have grown apathetic and numb to the sensation of losing, disappointment, and pain in general.

But what is there to be sad about, really?


The Aces were embarrassed last conference, also in the Finals, through a 3-4 dismantling at the hands of rivals San Miguel Beermen; the very same team that denied them twice last year.

You want to know what happened next? When it was time to move on from that conference and on to this one? The Beermen failed to advance, using 2x PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo’s subpar play (he was nursing an injury, literally pabebe levels as per some SMB fans we know) though they did enjoy the services of arguably the most gifted scoring import in Tyler Wilkerson (who they sent home later in the semis but hey, that’s their problem).

On the flipside, the Aces were already minus ace playmaker JVee Casio—and as reluctant as he was in shooting the basketball, he was pretty much the coach on the floor who knew how to read both offensive and defensive sets of opponents like an orthodontist would your pearly whites. Veteran Eric Menk was also on and off the rotation, while Dondon Hontiveros was given some time to rest early in the conference in an (short-lived) attempt to go “young.” Then, if that wasn’t enough, they also lost the services of Vic Manuel in the Playoffs.

But the Aces made it all the way into the PBA Finals. They beat a strong Talk’n’Text squad. They out-hustled a gritty Meralco-side and somehow negated its strongman, Best Import awardee Arinze Onuaku.

They did all of that minus Casio, some Menk and some Manuel.

So what is there to be sad about again?

If Casio played, he would’ve contributed on offense with his facilitating but how would he stop a bigger and focused Paul Lee? Let alone that rising threat Maverick Ahanmisi?

If Manuel played, he would’ve had to split time with Sonny Thoss at the 4 spot. Sure, there would be continuity in the paint, and he could’ve probably been able to stay on JayR Quinahan (who literally put the ball down and drove to the basket more in the Finals than in the last two-three years) much better, but again, he’d have to sit at some point. Plus, Best Player of the Conference buddy Calvin Abueva wouldn’t be able to crash the boards as much with him and import Rob Dozier all in the paint.

Menk? Meh.

So let us not sit on our hands and talk about the past shall we? Like what Coach Alex said/did after that disastrous Ph Cup campaign, they can only “move forward.”

By forward, we hope that he means more minutes for Racal, dela Rosa, Noy Baclao and Ping Exciminiano. They are the future of the Aces, despite Coach Alex’ stubbornness in playing Cyrus Baguio, Dondon Hontiveros and Tony dela Cruz heavy/ crunch-time minutes. Sam Eman, all 6”9 of him, can’t get his confidence up because he’s been glued to bench even in blowouts.

Should they make a few trades?

For who? And who do you give up?

Sonny Thoss is the franchise center, and there are only three guys who are legitimately better than him overall: Asi Taulava, Greg Slaughter and Fajardo.

If they could maybe get their hands on a shooting guard who can create his own shots, a closer, while being selfless enough to buy into the #wenotme mantra, then by all means they should go for it. Hell, maybe they could make an inquiry for Joseph Yeo? Last we heard is that his owner isn’t all too fond of The Ninja’s clear deference to youngsters Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle. Which is odd, because isn’t that what you want from your vets? To allow his rooks to grow? Okay…

Think about it. Alaska's closer was Baguio for a short time before he slowed down due to age and up until Hontiveros came into the picture. But now, well, age has caught up with both guards and if you think Abueva is a closer, then you need to watch more film on Michael Jordan: Scottie Pippen and or LeBron James: Dwyane Wade.

Banchero, Exciminiano, Abueva, Racal, Manuel and Thoss are keepers IMHO.

Still, the depleted Aces made the Finals and lost to a stacked RoS side that just came at them at waves.

There is nothing to be ashamed of about that.

On to the next one then.