Untamed

Running on primal instincts

There is a universal truth when it comes to the beings that roam this very world that we find ourselves fortunate enough to be part of. That no matter the education, the training or coaching, when things become increasingly challenging, nay, competitive, that every one, be it man, woman or beast, reverts to doing what they know instinctively. They no longer think, they just act in the manner that comes natural to them.

And for the Alaska Aces' 6"1 1/2 rookie Calvin Abueva, that means playing with fire, getting into the head of his opponents and occasionally, flopping to sell the contact and get the calls from the referees. There are no Xs and Os at times, Abueva leaves that up to his teammates. He runs the floor, goes hard and does whatever he pleases when he is given the basketball. It's the primal instinct to compete, to win.

PBA Commish Cup semis: Aces score 1st win over Cone

Dozier's making Bowles look old

After nine failed attempts over the course of a season and a half, Luigi Trillo and the Alaska Aces were finally able to beat former coach Tim Cone and the San Mig Coffee Mixers with a convincing 86-67 victory at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Just when it seemed that beating the Mixers was a gargantuan task that the Aces would never be able to accomplish, the Red and Black came out with a different mindset and game plan altogether: attack the rim. In Game 1, the Aces appeared to be at ease with trading jumpshots with the Mixers as they were playing exceptional defense on each other. Tonight, despite another strong effort on the defensive end by the Mixers early in the first, the Aces were just relentless.

Can the Aces really win over the Mixers?

Who's yo daddy?

Another San Mig Coffee Mixers game for the Alaska Aces, another painful loss that appears to know no end.

What is it with these two teams-- the way they cancel each other out and pretty much play at an equal footing not 'til the closing moments where the Mixers' veteran leadership and overall court savvy comes in to play? The victory was there for the taking for the hard-fighting Aces. They took every jab, straight and hook from the mighty Mixers and were unnerved by it all.

But when it mattered most, the Mixers stuck to who they were under coach Tim Cone, while the Aces faltered-- revealing their own coach's, Luigi Trillo's, lack of composure at the end. Why did Trillo opt to sit star guard Cyrus Baguio for majority of the 4th quarter when they needed some scoring to possibly break away?

PBA Commish Cup semis: Alaska vs San Mig Coffee

P*tangina banggaan to!

Trust that you've read our "emo" piece on the Alaska Aces and the San Mig Coffee Mixers going into their PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals match-up. Now, we're breaking down the match-ups and as always, going out on a limb to test our credibility (what?) and pick a winner.

PG JVee Casio/ RJ Jazul vs  Mark Barroca/ Joe DeVance
We've seen JDV being given the freedom by Mixers coach Tim Cone to run the point as an out-of-this-country sized point guard lately, and we are banking on even more ball-time for JDV. Casio and Jazul, though great offensively, are not as established defensively as Meralco's Chris Ross which allows JDV to dribble whenever and wherever he wants. This is going to be a problem for the Aces because JDV will undoubtedly set up shop down low and pretty much punish his pint-sized counterparts. If you're holding out for a Casio vs Barroca showdown, they'll cancel each other out. And as far as we've known Cone, he's not the type who's content with guys canceling one another. He wants the advantage-- and his name is JDV.
Adv. Mixers

Case of the Ex

Cone's superstars take on Aces' hustlers

Remember that ex-girlfriend/boyfriend of yours back in the day who you thought was the one you'd end up marrying someday? The one you'd spend crazy times with, experiment on (we'll leave this up to your imagination) and sincerely, at the bottom of your heart, feel will be the one who'd always be there for you as you would for them?

"The one that got away."

Well, we doubt that San Mig Coffee Mixers head coach Tim Cone feels the same for his former team of so many years, the Alaska Aces-- but there's undeniable history and a touch of bitterness there. Though they "broke up" in good terms and both parties have nothing but commendations, praises and the like for one another, the fact of the matter is that Cone left the Aces because he felt like they couldn't win anymore. They were (obviously) no match for the "richer" teams that would just treat independent ones as "farm teams," plucking superstars left and right even if they're offered the same amount of money (on paper anyway)

Into the PBA Commish Cup Playoffs (part 1)

God Mode?
Don't they know I invented "COOL?"

Alaska Aces (1) vs Air21 Express (8)
Make no mistake about it, no matter how promising the players on the court are this match-up will be decided on the coaching end. It's going to be the Aces' upstart Luigi Trillo versus tried-and-tested collegiate coach Franz Pumaren for Air21. At first glance, you're already looking at a highly entertaining series with the following match-ups:

PG JVee Casio vs Mike Cortez
It's going to be the guy that was embraced and loved by the Green-and-White going up against the one that was controversially disowned/disgraced/disavowed (before time healed all the old wounds). Both guys are coming off injury concerns, but of the two, it's going to be Cortez who will prove to be more invaluable to his team rather than Casio. Though Casio is continuing to learn and excel as a PBA-level point guard, he has the luxury of having RJ Jazul and even rookie Raffy Reyes to spell him and steer the Aces' offense. Cortez on the other hand, will have no reprieve in this one and is the one true catalyst should Air21 ever hope of stealing a game. Casio needs to look for his shots to keep Cortez honest, while the latter needs to use his height and heft to the hilt and keep on attacking the rim like the Cool Cat of old.

Adv. Air21

Alaska breaks tie with Rain or Shine

Should the two teams meet in the Finals,
the theme should be
LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR

The legend of the Cebuano Hotshot lives on.

Sinking seven of 10 three point attempts, Alaska Aces' veteran leader Dondon Hontiveros carried the fight when all seemed lost after his team fell by as much as 22 points versus the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.

Prior to the 4th quarter and overtime barrage, the Aces appeared to be out of sync and couldn't make any of their attempts. The Elastopainters on the other hand, were firing from all cylinders and making the most of mismatches on the floor starting with 7"3 import Bruno Sundov, big guard Paul Lee and the usual bench mob suspects (just pick your poison from game to game, tonight it was a little of TY Tang, Jireh Ybanes and Jervy Cruz).

Then midway of the third happened.

The Prototype

The Prototype

There was a time when PBA commentators would readily hand out monikers to just about anyone and everyone-- stars or not. Some of which became legendary thanks to that player's on-court skills, others stuck because it was simply the humorous thing to do.

It has always fascinated us how noone really came up with a moniker for one Gabby Espinas. We're not talking about the Espinas of today who has proven to be a solid contributor for the Alaska Aces, or the Espinas that was drafted by the San Miguel Beermen (now Petron Blaze Boosters) and buried on the bench behind a bunch of frontline veterans. We're talking about the Philippine Christian University-era Gabby Espinas, the man who won Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player in the NCAA (which was tarnished the year after when the league opted to give the same ROY-MVP double award to FOREIGNER Sam Ekwe) and was posting crazy, Calvin "The Beast" Abueva numbers even before The Beast came into the scene.

It's the little things for Alaska

Plenty of heroes on the Aces' roster
(photo courtesy of Yahoo.com.Ph)

Had you told us last season that the Alaska Aces, freshly divorced from long-time head coach Tim Cone, would turn it around, contend and even take the top spot in a single conference all in a year's time, we'd just dismiss you as a true blue (or red) fanatic who doesn't have a concrete grasp of the game of basketball.

Fortunately for us, no one predicted what was about to come to the Gatas Republik and their followers and no, it wasn't only about PBA Rookie of the Year shoo-in Calvin Abueva or prized offseason recruits JVee Casio and Dondon Hontiveros. The Aces are winning because they play together. They rally around one another and do all the little things necessary to ensure a victory.

Rookie watch: The Beast vs Cliff Hodge

You reach, I teach

We'll be the first to admit it.

While we always thought that the Alaska Aces' Calvin Abueva is the better player overall, we sided with the Meralco Bolts' Clifford Hodge and the latter having the better conference given his size. In case you're living under a rock, the current PBA Commissioner's Cup features a barrage of 6"9 and up imports that could only make life for the 6"1 (no way he's 6"3, have you seen him standing next to teammate Cyrus Baguio?) Abueva a living hell. Hodge, who stands at a legit 6"5, should be excelling this conference and playing at his regular power forward spot with ease.

Right?

Wrong.

Alaska off to immaculate start

RJ Jazul
(photo courtesy of PhilStar.Com)

It's funny how it was only a season ago when the Alaska Aces were cast as one of the proverbial "cellar dwellers" no thanks to their divorce with long time head coach Tim Cone. The players were listless and lethargic (hi Cyrus Baguio), the coach changed from Cone heir Joel Banal in the Philippine and Commissioner's Cup before settling with the then unimpressive Luigi Trillo in the Governor's Cup which was then followed by the exodus of team leader L.A. Tenorio who was coming off a brilliant stint with the SMART Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team.

Well, what a difference some offseason trades and the PBA Draft does. While Tenorio's floor leadership and court savvy will be missed, the guy he was indirectly traded for- JVee Casio is no patsy. Clutch-wise, Casio is everything Tenorio is (and may be even more) and while the former King Archer is nowhere near half the ball handler his predecessor is, he makes up for it with crisp and timely passes while keeping the turnovers at a minimum.

Texters show poise, tries for 3-peat

Castro was just too fast for Casio et al

We're not sure about the early days, but in the last 20 years no PBA team has successfully defended the Philippine (then All Filipino) Cup for three straight years. History is about to change however if the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters have their way after dismissing the young Alaska Aces in tonight's "you reach, I teach" Game 6 clincher.

We say and quote the great Michael Jordan simply because that's how the Texters played the game. The Aces were battling, scrapping for points behind rookie phenom Calvin "The Beast" Abueva and were in it despite off nights from guards JVee Casio and Cyrus Baguio but they were never really able to take control of the game thanks to the poise shown by the Texters.

#LetAbuevaBeAbueva

If a guy gives you 100% on the floor,
how can you afford to get mad at him

It's funny how a lot of people, Alaska Aces "fans" or not, were quick to call out Aces' rookie Calvin Abueva for his now famed "fumble" of the basketball when he chose to take matters into his own hands to try and cut a 3 point deficit to 1 in the closing seconds of yesterday's 99-95 loss to the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters.

The original play designed by Coach Luigi Trillo called for a three from JVee Casio (who was blowing hot and cold yesterday-- mostly cold in the 1st three quarters before he realized that he needed to start putting up shots). There were other options as well, but Abueva was the only guy who the Texters "allowed" to receive the basketball. Abueva, mindful of his spotty three point shooting, chose to go hard to the rim versus Jarred Dillinger but ended up dribbling the ball against his knee for the turnover.

Texters dominant over gun-shy Aces

Machine Gun Kelly

This was as ugly a semifinals basketball game could get.

Players from both Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters and the Alaska Aces were jittery, they were over eager and looked to be out of their collective wits on the floor to start. Thankfully, PBA MVP and the heart and soul of the Texters' attack-- Jimmy Alapag, got the starting nod from Coach Norman Black and decided to take over the game without putting up points.

Alapag went to work early, looking for his bigs and making them work the Aces' frontline relentlessly. Kelly Williams, another former PBA MVP, shone thanks to Alapag always making sure to keep him involved in the offense. The adjustment made by Coach Black was clear: make the Aces' prized big man Sonny Thoss work hard on defense.

On even ground (?)

Ready to rumble!

The "other" PBA Philippine Cup semifinals pairing of the three-peat seeking Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters versus the Alaska Aces was supposed to be a yawner. Save for some fireworks brought about by rookie Calvin Abueva, the Texters are expected to just run right through the Aces and move on to the Finals.

The Aces made a case for themselves in yesterday's, ugly, grind-it-out game.

While we're still sticking to the Texters winning the series, it's just highly entertaining to see the Aces fighting tooth and nail against the league's best team for the last two-three (even more) years. This, from an Aces team that last season looked lost and ready to close shop after the unceremonious divorce with long time coach Tim Cone (who's part of the other semifinals pairing between San Mig Coffee and Rain or Shine).

Aces Down

DARNA!

After surging near atop the PBA Philippine Cup rankings, the Alaska Aces have come undone and are caught in a string of misfortunes-- be it increasing non-calls, sour perimeter shooting or losing energetic rookie Calvin Abueva to a nasal issue triggered by a hit courtesy of Air21's Rob Reyes.

Head coach Luigi Trillo and even team owner Wilfred Uytengsu have gone on record asking for parity in officiating-- believing that their guys are getting the shorter end of the stick. There's also something to be made of Abueva being the target of opposing teams' "sahod boys"whose primary role is to make the former King Stag lose his temper and blow the game for the Aces (not like they need any help with that given their current five-game slide).

Hostile: Alaska vs Rain or Shine

Ala-RoS has all the makings
of a WWE Title Fight

... is the word that best captures what fans wanted to see in yesterday's match pitting the streaking Alaska Aces and steady Rain or Shine Elastopainters. It was a glimpse of what the PBA was turning into: the team that embodies the last two years' physical, throwback, Pinoy game versus the other one that is exploring this "new" territory behind rookie Calvin "The Beast" Abueva.

But Beau Belga "pa-simples" aside, fireworks didn't erupt. Our prediction of "two flagrants and three technicals"didn't come into fruition. The game was tight with the Aces leading by no more than 6 points at the end of 3 quarters before the Elastopainters, true to form, came storming back behind ace gunner Jeffrei Chan (who we now understand was given the monicker "Negros Sniper"-- okay, we can work with that.)

Aces' breakthrough

Clutch Casio's been doing
this for a long time

Last night's 94-92 victory by the Alaska Aces over the dominant Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters was long overdue.

And it couldn't have happened at a much opportune moment; with the Texters carrying an unblemished record and the Aces not dropping an assignment since losing their first two assignments and then adding rookie Calvin Abueva to the mix. It was a shame that Quinito Henson or Mico Halili weren't around to call this one, since they're the PBA's best "story tellers" (madalas nga lang ma-carried away si The Dean, si Mico naman borderline corny pag hindi naawat) who could've probably dropped a "something's go to give in this early clash of the titans" etc.

Real season starts for Alaska

Business is about to pick up for Alaska

Though we mourn the death of what could've been another classic and entertaining grudge match between the San Beda Red Lions and the San Sebastian Recoletos Golden Stags for the NCAA championship, the painful reprieve allows us the chance to finally see this year's most magnetic draft pick strut his wares in the PBA.

We're talking about no one else but the Stags' Calvin "The Beast" Abueva.

The obvious vital cog to the Alaska Aces' rebuilding and re-imaging approach to this season is finally done with his collegiate commitments and, as posted earlier by Ms CK Kanapi, has signed on the dotted line for the Aces. How badly does Aces Head Coach Luigi Trillo want Abueva to suit up? Think this Friday versus Petron. That's how much Coach Luigi and just about any Filipino basketball fan, casual or hardcore, want to see Abueva wearing a jersey with the letters PBA emblazoned on it.

Aces start the year awful

Alaska's franchis player
is a glorified role player at best

While the future still looks bright (any or all arguments against the Aces' should be put on hold until their number 2 overall pick, the San Sebastian Stags' Calvin Abueva, suits up), the Alaska Aces opened their Philippine Cup campaign being blown out by the San Mig Coffee Mixers, 103-83.

The team trailed from the start, failing to execute their sets and looking worse than Air21 did the whole last season. That's just how awful they appeared to be against a Mixers' team that features a hall of fame coach in Tim Cone and a crew of established and still in their prime veterans led by James Yap, PJ Simon and a vintage all-around performance by Yancy de Ocampo. Sophomore Mark Barroca was also huge in this one, running circles over SMART Gilas buddy and now Aces' "PG of the future" JVee Casio.