Under Compton, Aces learned to love the game again

MANILA, Philippines – The reaction of most was surprise. Social media was set ablaze in a second, while even the team’s most loyal fans had questions of why such a development took place without a moment’s warning.

On May 25, 2014, then Alaska Aces head Luigi Trillo resigned from his post, opening the door for Alex Compton to take over for the team. Did he really leave out of his own will? Or was it a public ploy to disguise that Trillo was actually fired?

The Aces had just opened their 2014 PBA Governors’ Cup campaign with a 1-1 record – not exactly eye-catching at that point, but also way too early to make such a drastic change for a franchise that history shows has typically made good decisions.

Trillo led the same team to a championship just a year prior. With reports surfacing that he had lost the faith of management and some of his players, maybe it was time to move on.

Compton went 4-3 and led his team to the no. three seed, but there were bumps and bruises along the way – particularly a 51-point obliteration at the hands of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. The same team which ironically the Aces took to 5 games in the semis – even leading the series 2-1 at one point – before bowing out of the conference.

The elimination was disappointing. Heartbreaking, even. But Compton proved he deserved at least another conference to convince management he could be the coach of the future for an Aces team that has won 14 PBA championships and is hungry for their first since the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup. Reports that were previously surfacing about Alaska being sold to NLEX were disappearing. In a way, there was hope again.

Chris Banchero, a star of the Asean Basketball League, was drafted and considered a steal at no. 5. Former PBA MVP Eric Menk was signed, if only to provide Alaska with a veteran who knows what it takes to win at the biggest stage.

But the biggest question circled around the head coach. Calvin Abueva had regressed in his second season, falling off from an explosive first-year campaign that earned him Rookie of the Year honors. There was so much untapped potential in the former San Sebastian collegiate superstar; could Compton get the best out of him? How about from players like JVee Casio, Cyrus Baguio, and Sonny Thoss?

A lot was on the line for the new head coach. And he didn’t disappoint. As a matter of fact, he has earned a stamp of approval from both his boss and his players that go beyond what the stat sheet shows.

Incredibly Proud

The Alaska Aces went 8-3 in the eliminations of the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup. They beat the NLEX Road Warriors and Meralco Bolts in the quarterfinals, and then erased the demons of Rain or Shine in the semis by eliminating them in 6 games. Their defense was headstrong. Their offense managed enough to win games. Abueva became the star his potential demanded him to be. The rest of the roster was contributing on a game-by-game basis.

In the finals, they ran into a well-oiled machine in the San Miguel Beermen who was destroying any team in their sight. Talk ‘N Text? They didn’t even stand a chance in the semis. June Mar Fajardo and the rest of his squad feasted on whatever defense the Tropang Texters threw at them, advancing easily after 4 games.

San Miguel had Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Chris Lutz, Alex Cabagnot. The amount of talent on their squad was off the charts. That’s always been the case for SMB. The past few years, they juggled coaches looking for someone to find the right mix that would tap the potential of the roster. And then they finally found their gem in Leo Austria.

Game 1 looked like it would be an absolute disaster for Alaska. San Miguel was up 27-5 at the end of the first quarter. Yet somehow Compton and his boys rallied to draw first blood. They did something similar in game 3, coming back from 18 points down entering the fourth quarter to send San Miguel fans home muttering to themselves, “What the hell just happened?”

In Game 6, Alaska was down 15-2 early, but won to tie the series at 3-3. In game 7, they trailed by 23 in the third quarter before compiling a comeback that PBA history should never forget. Sure, SMB won the championship – thanks in large part to a dagger of a triple from Santos – and deservingly so, but Alaska made sure to let their adversaries have to claw, grind, and battle for the title.

“I’m incredibly proud of how we performed. I’m a little disappointed we didn’t win, but you can’t fault the team for lack of effort,” Aces team owner Wilfred Uytengsu told Rappler.

“I mean, the heart that these guys showed, coming back from 14, 20, 22, 23 points in each of the games, and to come down against a very talented San Miguel team that was favored to win – they swept their way to the finals – you can’t help but be proud of their heart, their tenacity, and never-quit attitude.”

Typically in a basketball game, a 20-point lead is safe. Yet when the Beermen were ahead by a similar margin, their fans weren’t pre-celebrating; they were anxiously anticipating the inevitable comeback from Alaska. Never quit. Never say die. The Comeback Kids. The Aces earned all the nicknames they were associated with during their seven-game epic with SMB along with the adoration of the general public.

“I think we are who we are. We’re showing our heart and our brand of basketball, which is underscored with defense. Coach Compton is doing a great job of motivating his players. And we’ve got some of our older players who look like they’re playing 10 years younger,” said Uytengsu.

“It’s that type of inspiration that is really exciting to see and I hope we continue to play that brand of basketball for many more years to come.”

‘God, we love playing basketball again’

The question now is, how does Alaska bounce back from such a devastating defeat? They were up 74-68 with a few minutes left in game 7 following a basket from Abueva, who averaged 16.3 PPG, 11.4 RPG, and 2.7 APG in the Philippine Cup. Casio had the opportunity to win the title at the buzzer for Alaska, only the basketball gods had other plans.

“Our goal is always to be in the finals,” said Uytengsu, who looked more excited for the next PBA conference than devastated over what could have been in the prior one.

“Now, you can argue that we might be so disappointed we don’t have it in us, and that’s where we see what we’re made of. Do we have the character to bounce back? I think they (the players) do. I talked to a few of the players a couple of days after the game.”

And what did the say?

“They said, ‘Yeah, it really hurts. It really hurts, but you know what, we’re going to come back.’ We’re not content with being second place.”

Uytengsu need not to worry. He has the roster that has showed everyone they can contend for a championship. They have an import for the next conference in DJ Covington who should quickly fit with the team’s defensive principles.

But most of all, they have a guy calling the shots from the bench who’s a terrific tactician. He’s adored and loved by his players, which is a quality that transcends to great play on the basketball court.

“Coach Compton has been a revelation,” said Uytengsu. “He’s a great communicator. He’s a great motivator. Again, some of the players have come to me – who have been with us a long time – and they say, ‘God, we love playing basketball again.’ And you can see it.”

“You can’t pay guys to do what they’re doing out there: hustling each possession, every minute of the game.”

“So, I think, collectively, our hashtag says it all: we, not me.”

 

That mantra guided Alaska to being one of the best teams in the PBA in the latest conference. It guided them in their impressive performance in the playoffs. It guided them in pushing the Beermen into the brink of elimination. And it’s safe to assume it will continue to guide this team for the foreseeable future as they contend for PBA championships.

For the Aces, the drive for banner number 15 continues. Sure, they weren’t able to take advantage of a golden opportunity not all PBA franchises get when they lost game 7 to the Beermen, but they will be back.

They have the players. They have the always-supportive owner. They have the rabid fanbase, who like the team they support, displays a never-say-die attitude. Heck, even their mascot is probably the best in the league.

But most of all, they have a head coach who knows how to get the best out of his guys.

It looks like the Aces made a good decision again.

– Rappler.com