Dreaming with a broken heart

Photo credit to PBA.Inquirer.net

When you're dreaming with a broken heart/ The waking up is the hardest part/ 
You roll outta bed and down on your knees/ And for a moment, you can hardly breathe/

- J. Mayer, 2009

Is it safe to come out yet? Is the sun not going to burn a hole in my heart?

What is left of it, anyway.

We have been very honest about the Alaska Aces being our 2nd favorite PBA team (next only to the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, mostly for their similarities from style of play to overall team values), and it pains us to see them on the losing end of what will go down as THE most historic PBA Philippine Cup Finals (or any PBA Finals at that) versus the eventual champions San Miguel Beermen. How can you not feel sorry for Coach Alex Compton and his wards; after going up 3-0 against a 2x PBA MVP-less Junemar Fajardo bunch, they squander Game 4 then 5, 6 and finally, 7, all in heartbreaking fashion.

What is next for the Aces? How can you rebuild from this?

I'm a Luigi Trillo Guy

Calvin Abueva. Luigi Trillo Guy.
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Calvin Abueva. Gabby Espinas. Vic Manuel.

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?

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.

PBA Commish Cup Semis: The Exorcism of Luigi Trillo

The MAN for the job.

There was a point in this series wherein it seemed that no matter how far the Alaska Aces have gone under young head coach Luigi Trillo, that they would never rid themselves of the ghost of Tim Cone. It's bad enough that they haven't beaten Cone until this series, but also because it was starting to make every single reason that Cone et al came up with seem true.

You can't win big in the PBA without stars. You can't win big in the PBA without money. You. Just. Can't. Win.

But after four grueling, intense and highly entertaining games, the Aces have not only triumphed over Cone and the depleted San Mig Coffee Mixers, they have managed to exorcise their own demons and proven themselves worthy of their now growing Gatas Republik's adoration.

Why complicate things?

Was Coach Luigi the right choice? 

Before we proceed with meatier entries going into the final stretch of the Philippine Basketball Association's highly successful 37th season, let's take a look back at one of its more storied franchises which suddenly found itself lost making nary a whimper in any of the three conferences.

We're talking about no less than the Wilfred Uytengsu-owned Alaska Aces-- robbed of its identity the last 20 or so years no thanks to Hall of Fame coach Tim Cone's decision to search for greener pastures (read: join Team San Miguel via the B-Meg Llamados which he led to the PBA Commissioner's Cup title in only his 2nd conference on the job).