PBA: Alaska Aces Philippine Cup preview

Last Philippine Cup: If you’re a fan of the Alaska Aces, you should just skip this paragraph. It’s okay, no one will blame you. The Aces suffered through a miserable campaign in the first post-Tim Cone era season of Alaska. Erstwhile coach Joel Banal tried to implement a more dynamic offensive scheme, but all it resulted in were Aces getting in the way of other Aces, and a lot of standing around watching LA Tenorio get them the ball or jack up a shot at the end of the fourth quarter. The proof was in the pudding, as they ended up in ninth place in the Philippine Cup. Offseason Moves: Make no mistake, this isn’t your ate or kuya’s “Gatas Republic” anymore. It’s the dawn of a brand new era in Alaska basketball, and they signaled this in the loudest way possible, by drafting San Sebastian College’s Calvin Abueva with the second overall pick in the 2012 PBA Draft. For far too long, people have been decrying a supposed lack of toughness for what has been a very wholesome and family-friendly franchise. With the drafting of "The Beast," the Aces did the impossible: they shocked the PBA landscape. Not only that, in the second round they drafted UE’s Raphy Reyes, who in preseason games has proven to be a steal in the second round, so much so that Alaska had the confidence to trade Bonbon Custodio to Air 21, knowing that the backup-PG slot was in good hands with Reyes. The Aces were not done. In another move that signaled the changing of the times, Alaska shipped their franchise player LA Tenorio to Barangay Ginebra as part of a multi-team trade, and acquired Jvee Casio from Global Port, as well as Dondon Hontiveros from Petron. A lot of tongue-wagging and finger-pointing ensued, as no one could fathom the Gilas Pilipinas’ Jones Cup MVP being traded away so soon, but the early returns have been positive as Casio has done all he can to acclimate himself to the system of Alaska. In this new era of Alaska basketball, nothing is certain. Three keys to being successful in the Philippine Cup 1. Trillo and the Triangle - Alaska coach Luigi Trillo had a rough first outing in last year’s Governors' Cup, taking over from Joel Banal and installing another new offensive scheme on the fly. But this year, with an entire offseason to familiarize his players with his version of the Triangle Offense, that could change. With Casio’s arrival as well as Abueva’s ferocity, he has the right mix of shooters to surround Sonny Thoss’ inside game, as well as creators in case the offense goes awry. Although there were a lot of questions as to his promotion to head coach, Trillo could make all of that go away with a fine showing in the Philippine Cup. He has the personnel to achieve this. 2. Tame or Unleash the Beast? - Basketball fans are all curious as to how Calvin Abueva’s free-spirited wheeling and dealing ways in San Sebastian will translate to the pros. This is a dude who easily gets a 20-20 in a single game. Can he do that in Alaska, and more importantly will he get the freedom to barrel down the lane every single time as a one man fastbreak? Or will Trillo run the offense through Casio first and leave Abueva as an option? Abueva is a fantastic talent with a heart that belies his undersized stature as a Small Forward in the PBA. One thing’s for sure: whether in the amateurs or in the pros, if Abueva’s coming at you, it would be in your best interests to get the heck out of the way. 3. Look to achieve future glory, don’t dwell on the past - The memories of the 2010 championship, Alaska’s last one, seem so distant now. In fact only a handful still remain from that team. In its stead, a mix of talented youngsters and aspiring vets are all ready to craft a new chapter in the Aces’ legendary history. JVee Casio is looking to make people forget that Tenorio called the shots for the Aces, while veterans like Tony Dela Cruz, Sonny Thoss and Gabby Espinas are all there to patrol the paint and restore order to the Alaska defense. Hontiveros and Baguio are proud veterans who still have a lot left in the tank. And in the mix is Abueva, a tantalizing dynamite of a player. It’s an exciting mix of players that should have everyone raring to see what the future has in store for the franchise. What’s the one thing that scares Alaska fans? The possibility that the pieces won't fit. That Casio and Baguio will struggle with who’s on top of the totem pole. That Abueva will hijack the offense. That Thoss won’t get enough touches, or even that Coach Trillo’s offense won’t result in wins. As exciting as the future is for Alaska, the reality is that the pieces might take time to fit together, and it might not happen during the upcoming Philippine Cup. How this will likely play out: The Aces are the dark-horse of the tournament. Their fortunes could swing wildly depending on how things play out. If the system clicks and Casio can seize the reins of the team, then we’re looking at a potential Top 4 team, and a tough out in the semis. But if it takes a while for the team to figure out Trillo’s offense (with Abueva joining the team only after the NCAA season this is a real possibility), then the glory days of the Aces might have to be put on hold, at least for awhile. But all in all, the Aces in the upcoming Philippine Cup will be entertaining to watch, and an exciting preview of things to come. - AMD, GMA News