By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

HAD it rough in Season 42 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Alaska Aces are looking to redeem themselves in the just-started 43rd edition of Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

The Aces, retooled with new additions in its roster and coaching staff, begin their campaign in the season-opening Philippine Cup today against the Magnolia Hotshots in the scheduled main game at 7 p.m. at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Serving as an appetizer to the game is the joust between Kia Picanto and NLEX Road Warriors at 4:15 p.m.

Labored for much of last season that saw it failing to advance to the playoff round in the last two conferences and had to endure a 14-game losing streak spanning two conferences and five months, Alaska now hopes to start fresh and make its way back to the high level of competitiveness that the league has gone accustomed to seeing from it.

Joining the Aces this season are rookies Jeron Teng and Davon Potts, who the team picked in last October’s draft. Free-agent Ronald Pascual has also been signed up.

They are joining the Aces core of Calvin Abueva, Chris Banchero, JVee Casio, Carl Bryan Cruz, Vic Manuel, Simon Enciso, Kevin Racal and Sonny Thoss as they try to turn things around this year.

Also part of the team now is the coaching trio of Eric Altamirano, Danny Ildefonso and Tony dela Cruz, joining the staff of head coach Alex Compton and replacing erstwhile deputies Louie Alas and Topex Robinson who are now with the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters.

“I’m excited for the start of the new PBA season. Last year was a tough one for us and hopefully we get to bounce back this around,” said Alaska coach Compton in the lead-up to the start of the Philippine Cup.

“Key for us is to regain our identity as a defensive team, bringing back the ferocity and toughness that helped us previously,” he added.

NEW NAME
Meanwhile, the newly named Hotshots are also looking to set their own campaign to a good start.

Now playing under the Magnolia brand of San Miguel Foods, Inc., the Hotshots intend on building on it as an inspiration.

“This only inspires us to be better. I’m happy with the roster with have right now. And I’m sure they are happy as well to play under Magnolia,” said Hotshots coach Chito Victolero, whose squad used to play under Purefoods Star.

Marc Pingris and Paul Lee are once again tasked to lead the team, which made it to the semifinal round of each of the three conferences last season.

Rookies Robbie Herndon and Gwyne Capacio are also now part of the team, which still has Jio Jalalon, Mark Barroca, Ian Sangalang and Aldrech Ramos in the roster.

“We expect to continue to have our work cut out for us. We have been preparing our players and hopefully we stay healthy to be able to compete. I trust my players and I am very positive that we can compete with anybody,” Mr. Victolero said.

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