Alex Compton hasn’t been hands-on with the Alaska Aces for a two-month stretch following a Gilas Pilipinas experience. Being back with the team and winning their 2015-16 PBA opener, 114-98 over TNT, he cracked a joke.
“Sabi sa inyo, magaling sila kapag wala ako,” the always animated mentor said, giving credit to his entire coaching staff for keeping the Aces in great form and prepared for another season of PBA basketball.
“I am blessed with a tremendous coaching staff. While we committed to the national team whole-heartedly, there was no feeling our team is going to fall apart because we had excellent leaders on our team,” Compton said.
“The guys played great and with high energy. I credit this to the whole coaching staff. They did a great job. They really prepared us. We had guys in double-digits and we had great ball movement.”
Alaska looked sharped, leading for almost the entire game after falling to a 0-6 hole early in the match. The team shot 50 percent from three-point area and 52 percent overall. The Aces also had a commanding 60-38 lead in points in the paint as they exposed the Tropang Texters’ defense, and controlled the rebounding battle, 54-44.
Compton admits he was surprised it was a wide open game to their favor, and he expects tougher competition against other contenders.
“I didn’t see (the blowout) coming. Maybe we caught them at an off night and our shots went in. But I am certain there will be times we will have to come back. There are a lot of great teams,” he said.
The mentor also added working together with other Gilas coaches also added to his experience.
“You get to meet with other coaches personally. Getting to know those guys better, my respect for them increased. I thought I had to figure out how to pull some rabbits out of the hat coming to the game. I was really worried. They caused me (to do) great work and try to figure out TNT. This never entered my mind once.”
