Were you surprised with the new look Alaska Aces?
A more energetic, more determined and more defensive minded Alaska team showed up on Wednesday’s game against grand slam team Purefoods Star, which was beaten soundly, 93-73.
Head coach Alaska Compton shared to Tiebreak Times that the new-found aggressiveness on defense was one of the few things they’ve learned during the camp supervised by Australian coach Rob Beveridge. Beveridge was a champion coach of the Australian Junior Men’s Team which won the world championship in 2003. Currently, Beveridge was appointed head coach of the Shanghai Sharks, a team owned by former NBA star Yao Ming, in the Chinese Basketball Association.
Among Beveridge’s credentials include a championship in the National Basketball League, leading the Perth Wildcats to a championship in 2010. He was also part of the 2006 Commonwealth Games where his team won the gold medal and coached the Australian men’s national team to the 2006 World Championship in Japan.
Compton said he and Beveridge shared the same ideals. “We have the same philosophy. I told him what I wanted to do with my team and he shared the same vision. So he shared some great things to me during the camp, which we’re doing now with our team,” Compton said.
Alaska’s pesky defense forced Purefoods to 24 turnovers , which resulted in 17 points.
Purefoods star forward James Yap admitted they didn’t come prepared against the pressure defense of Alaska, which caught its rival flat footed.
