Fiesta Conference cut out for Aces' second coming

MANILA, Philippines - Making an outstanding run in the 2009-2010 season as a young team, Alaska Milk could well churn out more incredible feats as the Aces return as mature and battle-tested warriors next season.

Coach Tim Cone, now only two short of Baby Dalupan’s league record haul of 15 championships, feels something more special is in store for his team in the 2010-2011 campaign.

A runner-up finish in the Philippine Cup and championship conquest in the Fiesta Conference could really be the dawning of another golden era for the Uytengsu franchise, the league’s biggest toast in the 90s.

“Cyrus (Baguio) could be better. We’ll miss Jeff (Cariaso) but Tony (dela Cruz) is ready to take the mantle of leadership. LA (Tenorio), Joe (De Vance) and Sonny (Thoss) have matured and there’s Sam (Eman) who’s huge. I’m looking forward to the next all-Filipino,” said Cone, confident they can have a good shot at a first all-Filipino crown in 10 years.

Cone has so much expectation for next season, thinking the just concluded Fiesta Conference was a learning experience for his team and they could be even better in the next tourneys.

“As to what Cyrus has shown, it’s just the scratching of the surface of his potential. The sky is the limit for ‘Skyrus,’” said Cone of Baguio, a key acquisition before the Fiesta Conference.

“He’s not yet running the triangle efficiently. He’s yet to use the screens and picks properly to get free. He just plays his tremendous potential. I think the triangle is built perfectly for him,” Cone added of the player named co-Welcoat Paints PBA Fiesta Conference Finals MVP with Tenorio.

Cone stressed, though, that their championship conquest was not just all because of Baguio but of an overwhelming performance of the team.

The veteran Alaska mentor gave huge credit to import Diamon Simpson.

“No one had the answer for him all season long and that opened up things for the team,” said Cone of Simpson, denied of a well-deserved Best Import award just because of the vote of Solar Sports.

The 22-year-old import, now bound for Turkey, had his imposing presence Wednesday night, coming through with 28 points and 19 rebounds to help the Aces to a 102-88 win that ended the San Miguel Beermen’s reign as Fiesta Conference champs.

Baguio, De Vance, Tenorio and Thoss also played big as the Aces hardly gave the Beermen a chance to extend the series to another game.

“It’s almost like a script,” said Cone, savoring the sweetness of their first championship in three years and 13 overall since joining the pro league in 1986.

“The guys made terrific shots and defended well from the start. We made a big deal winning the first quarter and just kept the pressure on them,” Cone also said.

“Cyrus hit big shots, and Joe had his own big shots in the first quarter. LA made good passing that kept us afloat in the second and third quarter then Simpson took over in the fourth. It’s really almost like a script,” Cone added.

He said he’s not superstitious, but circumstances that helped them along the way make him feel they’re destined to win the championship.

They got past the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the semifinals after being forced to play with a small rotation on the sidelining of Sonny Thoss due to injury.

TnT coach Chot Reyes insisted they had a tougher time with the Aces as they became quick and sleek while playing small.

Then there’s the incident of Tony dela Cruz incurring sore eyes on the eve of Game Six.

“We were forced to return to a big starting lineup and, lo and behold, we overwhelmed them right at the start,” said Cone.

Overwhelm the Beermen the Aces did to the finish thus they’re back as the league’s best.