Even if the months-long, 14-game skid has ended for the Alaska Aces, star forward Calvin Abueva still remains unsure if his side already has things going for them, as back-to-back wins aren’t enough of a gauge for him.
“‘Di ko pa masasabi. Pangalawa pa lang eh,” said the six-foot-two Kapampangan, who scored 12 markers — all in the fourth quarter — to go with five rebounds in their 101-88 win over Globalport Batang Pier, Friday night.
For the Gilas Pilipinas stalwart, the real barometer for the Milkmen is if they can still make the 2017 Governor’s Cup playoffs.
“Kailangan pumasok ng playoffs kasi na-record kami, ‘di ba, kaya kailangan namin straight ‘to,” said the 29-year-old, as they have three games left. “Itong win na ‘to, wala pa ‘to sa naranasan namin na straight losses kaya kailangan namin makapasok ng playoffs.
“Doon namin maramdaman kung yun na talaga kami.”
Looking at the numbers, the Aces still have a chance to barge into the quarterfinals — even if they started the conference with six straight losses — if they sweep their last three assignments against the Kia Picanto, Meralco Bolts, and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
But easier said than done, as they say. And the one-time PBA champion is fully aware of this, too, so the Aces are taking everything one step at a time.
“Oo sobra [gigil] pero syempre inuunti-unti namin. ‘Di naman basta-basta makakapasok ng ganun,” Abueva said.
