The much-desired PBA title continues to elude the Alaska Aces.
The storied franchise’s quest for its first championship in half a decade has been prolonged yet again following their humiliating loss to now-champs Magnolia Hotshots in Game Six of the 2018 Governors’ Cup Finals, Wednesday.
The blowout at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City was anti-climactic for a series that had mainly been decided by inches – Games Two, Four, and Five were only determined by an average gap of 3.7 points.
“It hurts.
“We really wanted this championship. But they played better, they played great. We just lost,” admitted Jvee Casio, who has been with Alaska since 2012.
With Wednesday’s loss, the Aces have rewritten the league’s history books – though not in a way they can be proud of. Since winning the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup title, Alaska are now 0-5 in the Finals.
But as painful as it is, the 32-year-old La Sallian asserts that it was still a good season for them.
The 5-foot-10 floor general is proud of the Aces’ campaign this year. For him, a quarterfinal stint in the Philippine Cup; followed by a trip to the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals; and now an appearance in the season-ending tilt’s title series isn’t that bad.
“I think we’re going the right way, in the right direction. All-Filipino quarters tapos semis, tapos ngayon Finals, pero ‘di namin na-achieve. I think we’re heading to the right direction,” said Casio, a one-time PBA champion.
“We have to build on it. Yung nangyari sa amin this season.”
