2014-2015 PBA Season Team Preview: Alaska Aces

With the 40th season of the PBA fast approaching, Yahoo Philippines will be giving you a closer look at all 12 competing teams. The first team on tap is Alaska.

The Alaska Aces had an up and down performance in the 39th Season of the PBA.  With a full off season with head coach Alex Compton, the Aces are looking to rediscover their identity and move closer to the lofty goal set by their owner.

2013-2014 PBA Season Recap:

Philippine Cup: Finished eighth in the eliminations, lost to Ginebra in the quarterfinals

Commissioner’s Cup: Finished third in the eliminations, lost to San Mig Super Coffee in the quarterfinals

Governors’ Cup: Finished third in the eliminations, lost to Rain or Shine in the semifinals

Where they were: The first two conferences were painful for Alaska. They failed to get into any kind of rhythm in the Philippine Cup until the very end. They rode on what looked like a budding Cinderella run but Ginebra was simply too tough for them.

In the Commissioner’s Cup, they got Rob Dozier back and they looked good in the elimination round but they ran into a brick wall in San Mig Super Coffee.

After the abrupt end of the Luigi Trillo era, the Aces actually made a good run. They were a wet spot away from making it into the finals but they could not win Game 5 of the semifinals series without JVee Casio, Sonny Thoss, and Gabby Espinas against the Elasto Painters.

Where they want to be: The mandate from Alaska team owner Fred Uytengsu is clear. They want to be the most successful team in PBA history. Right now, San Miguel Beer owns the top spot with 19, Alaska has 14, and the Mixers have 13. They all know it’s not going to be easy but everything Alaska does must be a step closer to bringing themselves into situations where it would be possible to win a championship.

Addition/s: Chris Banchero, Eric Menk, Rome dela Rosa.

Departure/s: Nic Belasco

Key issues: Rugged forward Gabby Espinas won’t be available in the first conference. Calvin Abueva is also coming off a minor surgery on his knee.

They said it:

Team owner Fred Uytengsu: Our vision is to be the most successful franchise in the history of the PBA. It was not our goal in the very beginning. The goal back then was just to be competitive but after we got a taste of success, we want something bigger.

Head coach Alex Compton: We have good players. We have high quality people. We don’t really have any knuckleheads. It’s on me and up to me as a leader to help lead us to a point where we’ll maximize out talent. I have high hopes for us. I believe in these guys.

Assistant coach Louie Alas: Coach Alex does not stop working. Everyday we talk about new ideas. Everyday we’re trying to improve. With a complete off season, it will be easier to insert more of his style to the team.

Prognosis: Although last season’s ending was not particularly good for Alaska, it should be looked at as something to build on. They replaced a head coach and the Aces actually performed well. The questions remain on Abueva. Could he be The Beast again? Could he regain his old form? But amongst all of the players in their lineup, JVee Casio and Sonny Thoss are still the most important.

Having Thoss was a luxury for Alaska before but it is now a need with the arrival of giants such as June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter. Casio, on the other hand, needs to remain aggressive on offense. Banchero is an interesting addition but no one knows for sure how his game will translate into the PBA.

Also, Cyrus Baguio needs to be that scoring machine again. If he can’t, the Aces need to figure out who can fill that role. Dondon Hontiveros could be that guy for some games but they need a scorer who could put up 12 to 15 points per game.

Look for the Aces to put a premium on defense as coach Compton introduces his own philosophies into Alaska's scheme.

With the coaching carousel in the MVP groups, Alaska should have no problem making the semis in all three conferences. The Philippine Cup could be a struggle for them at the start with their health woes. If they get a healthy Dozier back again, they will be a force in the Commissioner’s Cup. If Henry Walker plays like how he did in the tail end Governors’ Cup (and if the mop man gets the sweat out of the floor), Alaska should be a favorite to make it into the finals in the third conference.