Alaska back on track

Since taking over the Alaska reins in the 2014 PBA Governors Cup, coach Alex Compton has piloted the Aces to four Finals in 10 conferences, a respectable batting clip. But the downside is Alaska hasn’t advanced to the semifinals in the last four conferences. Last season’s overall record of 14-22 was a serious letdown because dating back to 1986, the franchise has registered only eight losing marks. That’s eight of 31 seasons and six came in Alaska’s first eight years in the league. Alaska’s winning tradition is reflected in the fact that 75 percent of its 31 years in the PBA, the Aces were at least a .500 team.

Compton, 43, isn’t used to losing. He has won championships as a player and coach in the PBA, PBL and MBA. So when Alaska suffered a 14-game losing skid from the Commissioner’s Cup to the Governors Cup last season, Compton was devastated. He said the performance was totally unacceptable. The Aces finished fifth in the Philippine Cup and ninth in both the Commissioner’s and Governors Cups. Seven teams had losing records and for Alaska, it was unfamiliar company. 

Alaska broke out of the slump with three wins in a row in the last Governors Cup but couldn’t sustain the momentum and wound up the conference losing two straight. Starting this season, the Aces got off to a 0-2 slide but Compton stayed the course. He knew sooner or later, the tide would turn and sure enough, it did.

Now, Alaska has won three in a row, upending Meralco, 103-98, Kia, 102-65 and Barangay Ginebra, 97-83. In the Aces’ three wins, they’ve averaged 100.7 points. Before the Ginebra game last Sunday, Alaska was No. 1 in field goal percentage at .457 and No. 3 in fastbreak points at 19.25.

Chemistry is what Compton has created in the Alaska lab. He’s often said Alaska is about “We Not Me” and the stats bear him out. Compton likes to use a balanced attack, fueled by a deep rotation where every man on the team is given a chance to contribute. It’s no accident that not a single Alaska player is averaging 30 minutes or more.

After five games, there are five Aces averaging at least 20 minutes a game, nine at least 15 and l5 at least 10. Even Ronald Pascual, who was placed on the injured reserve list to make room for the comebacking Noy Baclao last Saturday, is averaging at least 10 minutes in two outings. Pascual, 29, was the third overall pick in the 2014 draft after Stanley Pringle and Kevin Alas and played 23 games for San Miguel Beer, eight for Star and one for Blackwater before he was rescued by Alaska to stage a return. Pascual teamed with Calvin Abueva on the 2009 NCAA champion San Sebastian team so he probably got a big recommendation from his kabalen.

For what Compton wants the Aces to do on the court, he needs depth. Alaska pressures from the backcourt, traps and runs its opponents to the ground. The Aces aren’t afraid to give it all they’ve got once they’re tapped to play because anyone who gets tired knows somebody is ready to pick up the slack. Pacing is not in Compton’s vocabulary. 

Against Ginebra, Alaska got off to a hot start, outscoring the Barangay, 26-23 in the first period. Then, Ginebra clamped down on defense in the second quarter, limiting Alaska to 10 points and raced to a 44-36 lead at the turn. Opening the second half, Alaska went to a full-court press and took the starch out of Ginebra’s short rotation. In the third period, Alaska forced Ginebra into eight turnovers from which the Aces scored 12 points. Alaska blanked Ginebra in fastbreak points, 6-0 and hit 72.2 percent from the field, including 3-of-3 triples. Japeth Aguilar got into foul trouble and the Ginebra defense, that stood out in the second quarter, suddenly collapsed. With Aguilar riding the bench, Compton deployed Sonny Thoss and Vic Manuel together to dominate the interior and they combined for 15 of Alaska’s 37 points in that 12-minute stretch. Compton used Jeron Teng and Abueva alternately in the first half but in the third period, they played together and were in synch.

What’s remarkable is a rookie is leading Alaska in scoring with Teng showing the way with a 16.8 clip. Abueva is averaging 14.8 and Manuel, 13.8. Curiously, Jvee Casio is logging the most minutes a game at 27.2 while averaging 9.6 points. If Abueva is Alaska’s game-changer, Casio is the leader on the floor as Compton’s alter ego. Carl Bryan Cruz’ emergence as a major contributor is a big boost. Chris Banchero, Simon Enciso, Jake Pascual, Marion Magat, Abel Galliguez, Davon Potts, Chris Exciminiano and Kevin Racal round out the cast. Basically, every Ace in Compton’s roster and up his sleeve is a role player. That’s how he likes it. Nobody’s a star in Compton’s system, not Abueva, not Teng. Everyone has a role to play and if the Aces are all on the same page, there’s no limit to how far they’ll go this conference. Compton hopes to break back into the semifinals and from early indications, Alaska’s on the right track.