When the Alaska Aces ran roughshod to open 2018, winning six straight games after a 0-2 start in the Philippine Cup, many believed that the Milkmen had regained their status as one of the league’s deadliest teams.
However, the franchise’s face Calvin Abueva, in an interview back in the elimination round, was hardly sold that the Aces have fully regained their identity.
“‘Di pa namin masasabi yan na mababalik yung Alaska na dati,” he said.
And it appeared that the Beast was right, on Wednesday evening.
The Milkmen, who entered this season’s All-Filipino quarterfinals as the third-seeded team thanks to a 7-4 card in the elimination round, have bowed out of contention, as they lost to the sixth-ranked NLEX Road Warriors in sweep, 83-87.
This setback came as a shocker, especially for the Alaska faithful, as many had actually expected them to head to the semifinals for the first time since 2016 due to the semis-worthy outings they had shown back in the first round.
“You know, we got to get a lot better in a lot of little things,” admitted head coach Alex Compton, moments after their ouster at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Little things, indeed, are what Alaska must polish, especially in the end-game. In their two playoff games, both went down to final possessions, with the Aces seemingly failing to prevent NLEX from doing the big plays.
In Game One, Kiefer Ravena’s assist and lay-up off a jump ball tip in the closing seconds sealed the win. And in Game Two, NLEX found an unlikely hero in Michael Miranda, whose five straight points doused cold water on the Aces.
“It’s the second straight game where NLEX made the plays. They made shots last game — obviously it was Kiefer, this time it was Miranda’s five points and the free throws,” said Compton.
“They played great, hats off to them.”
The conference is all over now for Alaska. But the 43rd season is still long, and there are two more conferences ahead for them to redeem themselves. Now, Compton is setting his sights on the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.
Alaska are expected to make a good run in the following tilt, as last year’s Commissioner’s Cup was when their historic 14-game skid started. However, Compton and his deputies are still on the lookout for an import.
“Dwight Howard’s measured overheight so he’s out,” said the 43-year-old tactician in jest.
“We have some guys in line. We’ve been scouting since October. But I can’t disclose their names right now.”
