Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Cariaso on Alaska’s mindset vs Magnolia: ‘We approached this thinking we were 1-1’


Alaska headed into Saturday’s match versus 2020 PBA Philippine Cup favorites in Magnolia with a 0-2 record, but that slate wasn’t on the Aces’ minds.

“We approached this game thinking we were 1-1,” said head coach Jeff Cariaso.

“And I say that because we felt like we should’ve won that first game.”

The Aces’ first game was versus TNT Tropang Giga on opening day. There, they got off to a good start, leading by 16 points, only to lose composure in the end and bow out, 95-100.

“[The] Mistakes we made were our mistakes, things that we could control,” said the cager-turned-coach, who’s now in his second season at the helm.

“So when you approach it that way compared to being 0-2, I think the mindset is different.”

The results prove that having that kind of approach helped. The Milkmen pulled the necessary plays on both ends down the stretch, taking down the Hotshots, 87-81, for their breakthrough win.

And Cariaso feels proud of the way his wards showed up, especially on the defensive side of the floor. After all, the performance came against the squad that was the barometer of defense last season.

“You come into this game against a very well-coached and very talented Magnolia team… They have superstars on their team that we really have to be worried about. To be able to step up and be better defensively was my biggest take on tonight’s game,” said the seasoned mentor, who once served as an assistant with the Purefoods franchise during the time of Coach Tim Cone.

#ReadMore  Allen Durham, Meralco give TNT dose of own medicine, knot semis series

The likes of Jvee Casio and Mike DiGregorio made big shots in the clutch, but the Aces’ stops were just as important in closing it out.

DiGregorio first made a triple that widened their lead to four with 54.6 seconds left. Vic Manuel then blocked Mark Barroca’s shot five seconds later.

Casio had his own key stop as well. He swatted away the shot of Jackson Corpuz from beyond the arc with 15 ticks left. to stave off any comeback attempt.

“Just going into the game, you kinda don’t know what we’re expecting, to be honest with you. We just try to be our best. I challenged the guys going into tonight’s game that we just need to be better in what we do. And the guys showed it tonight – defensively, they were a lot better than the first two games,” said Cariaso.

“We just hope to improve as the conference goes on.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Juami Tiongson nailed the game-winner to help Terrafirma complete a massive comeback against Blackwater, 92-91, and get back on track in the PBA Season...

Basketball

NLEX dealt Blackwater its first loss, 103-97, to further its own streak in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Wednesday at the Philsports Arena...

Basketball

Blackwater humiliated Converge, 90-78, to take the provisional lead in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. In arguably...

Basketball

Blackwater head coach Jeffrey Cariaso is crossing his fingers after losing Rey Nambatac early in their eventual upset of TNT in a PBA Season...

Basketball

Blackwater earned a huge 87-76 upset against TNT to take the early lead in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Saturday at the SMART...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Rey Nambatac refused to see his debut become a footnote as he saved Blackwater from a massive collapse against Meralco, 96-93, in...

Basketball

The vets came through in crunch time as San Miguel overcame Blackwater, 125-117, to clinch a coveted playoff incentive in the PBA Season 48...

Basketball

NorthPort is bound for the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals after blasting Blackwater, 106-89, Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. The Batang Pier...

Advertisement