PBA: Trillo bows out, Compton now Alaska head coach

Rodneil Quiteles

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After three conferences of making it to the PBA semifinals, reigning coach of the year Luigi Trillo steps down as Alaska's head coach

STEP DOWN. Alaska's Luigi Trillo steps away from head coaching to spend more time with family. File photo by Jane Bracher/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Reigning Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Coach of the Year Luigi Trillo steps down as head coach of the Alaska Aces Sunday, May 25. 

In a press release posted on the team’s official website, the young coach thanked the organization and said he will be “leaving the team in a good place.”

“I’m going to take some time off to spend with my family,” Trillo added.

Alaska owner Wilfred Uytengsu made the announcement and thanked Trillo for all his hard work.

“We are appreciative of Luigi’s efforts during his tenure as Head Coach and piloting the Aces to our 14th PBA title. But it has been a challenging ride the past three conferences,” said Uytengsu in the press release.

Trillo led the Aces to the PBA 2013 Commissioner’s Cup finals where they swept Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in a best-of-five series. It was the team’s first championship since long-time head coach Tim Cone left.

READ: Luigi Trillo comes full circle

Since then, the team has had trouble making it back to the Finals, bowing to the opposition in the quarterfinals for the last three conferences.

Coach Compton

Taking over as the new head coach is former player Alex Compton.

Compton said he will miss working with Trilo but at the same time he is “both excited and challenged by the opportunity to try and replicate the success the Alaska franchise has had over the past 28 years.”

NEW COACH. Alex Compton will takeover as new head coach of the Alaska Aces. Photo from alaskaaces.com.ph

Compton first played for the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) where he won 2 titles playing for Manila Metrostars and the Batangas Blades. He was the 1999 MBA Most Valuable Player.

The Philippine-born American player could not be allowed to play in the PBA due to eligibility issues but finally got his chance when he was hired as the second import for the Welcoat Dragons (now the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters) in the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference.

He joined Alaska as an assistant coach in 2013 but had prior assistant coaching stints at Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola.

The Aces currently hold a 1-1 win-loss record. Their latest loss came at the hands of Global Port Batang Pier – a team that failed to win a single game in the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Compton will make his head coaching debut on Monday, May 26 as Alaska is set to face the powerhouse Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters. – Rappler.com

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