Alaska 'one of the favorites' to win title, says former Aces coach Luigi Trillo

 

After parting ways with Alaska last season, Luigi Trillo now serves as an assistant coach with the Meralco Bolts.

 

On Friday, he was on the wrong end of a huge beatdown, as his old team laid a 41-points beatdown on his new squad.

 

"They're playing really championship basketball, high level basketball," said Trillo after Alaska's 105-64 victory. "I think they're one of the favorites."

 

Trillo, who led the Aces to a championship in the Commissioner's Cup in 2013, especially lauded the Aces' "unselfish basketball" and team play. Alaska dished out 30 assists in the game, compared to Meralco's 12.

 

"They were playing as a unit. They're moving the ball, they were sharing it, they knew what they were doing," said Trillo, who admitted it was a bit weird to face the franchise with whom he spent some 15 years in the PBA, first as an assistant and later as a head coach.

 

"Just awkward, really. So many fun memories there, I mean a lot relationships over there," he said.

 

"It's just all surreal  thinking about it. I've had 15 years in Alaska so just a lot of things there."

 

Despite coaching a different squad now, Trillo remains proud of his previous team.

 

"Kudos to Coach Alex and the whole coaching staff and everybody. It wasn't just Calvin and JVee 'cause they were a team," he said.

 

"I just think they're playing really inspired team basketball." — JST, GMA News