Alaska braces for 'deep' Meralco roster
The Alaska Aces during their last game which saw them score a win. | PBA Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — Alaska’s chief tactician is wary of their next assignment.
The Aces, who are looking to improve their standing in the Philippine Cup, will be taking on a relatively younger squad in the Meralco Bolts, but Alex Compton knows that they are facing a steep task in order to hike their number of wins.
“Meralco has moved into the upper echelon of the PBA,” Compton said. “They are well coached, [well-playing], are big, and have added talented wing men.”Compton, who is coaching the Aces for the third season, added that tonight’s tussle with the Bolts poses a particular challenge.
“They are so deep at the 4-5 spot, while both of our centers are still injured,” he said. “Big things for us in this game will be whether or not we can defend the entire play including the offensive rebounds.”
But Alaska’s not going into the game unarmed. With the absence of Sonny Thoss and Noy Baclao due to injuries, their recent trade acquisition in Jake Pascual could prove in handy.
And of course, there’s Calvin Abueva, who mounted a stellar return, dropping 22 points against GlobalPort last week.
“They are plus-12 per game in rebounding,” Compton noted of the Bolts. “And with one of the best rebounders in the PBA in Cliff Hodge playing the 3 mostly now instead of the four, we have got to be at our scrappiest.”
Alaska will look to cut the 3-1 Meralco’s power in the second game of today’s PBA skirmish at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. NLEX and the shaken-up Blackwater will clash in the first game.
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