PBA: Trillo out, Compton in as head coach of the Alaska Aces

The Alaska Aces have replaced reigning Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year Luigi Trillo with assistant Alex Compton, after the former stepped down from the position, the team announced Sunday via press release.

Good luck to our new head coach Alex Compton.... http://t.co/MSRBUthPhr

— Alaska Aces (@Alaska_Aces) May 25, 2014
 

Franchise owner Wilfred Uytengsu said in the release, “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.

“The Trillo name will always be fondly associated with the Aces owing to the fact that Joaqui Trillo served as Team Manager for 25 years as well as the Aces representative to the Board of Governors together with his son Luigi who were the only father/son (team manager-head coach) tandem to lead a franchise to a PBA title.” Uytengsu added.   

Trillo also said in the same statement, “I would like to thank the Alaska organization for the last 16 years of employment. I am leaving the team in a good place. I’ll always have fond memories especially, the championship we won last year as a team.

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

The team first tapped Trillo, who was then head coach of the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems in the PBA D-League, after Joel Banal, the squad’s replacement following the departure of iconic coach Tim Cone, resigned on April 16, 2012.

Though the team went just 2-7 in the 2012 Governors’ Cup, the Aces improved to 8-6 in the next season’s Philippine Cup, and took the eventual champions Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters to six games in the best-of-seven semifinals series. Trillo followed that up by winning the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup, but the team has failed to return to the Finals since then.

Currently the squad has a 1-1 record in the on-going Governors’ Cup.

Compton was an assistant prior to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Powerade Tigers. He also played in the PBL and as an import in the PBA.  

“It has been an honor working with and learning from Coach Luigi Trillo, and I consider him a good friend. While I will miss working with him, I am both excited and challenged by the opportunity to try and replicate the success the Alaska franchise has had over the past 28 years. I look forward to working with Mr. Uytengsu, Mr. Bachmann, and all the coaches and players as we continue our pursuit of excellence,” Compton said. - AMD, GMA News