By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
DOWN 3-2 in their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup finals series, the Alaska Aces are choosing not to fret too much and are instead focusing on getting the next two games to complete their title quest.
Narrowly missed having the upper hand after absorbing a 79-78 heartbreaker to finals foes Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok in Game Five on Friday, the Aces find themselves needing to sweep the remaining games of the series if they are to become the lone surviving team in the season-ending PBA tournament.
Having found itself in the same predicament earlier in the series though, Alaska is not losing confidence in its ability to do it again this time around.
“It’s not really new to us. We were down 0-2 at the beginning of the series, so we’re just really gonna get back to the gym and work even harder, clean up some of the things that we need to clean up,” said Aces guard Simon Enciso following their Game Five defeat.
He was quick to say though that they have to be on top of their game right from the get-go and not bank too much on charging back in games, a situation that has not worked in their favor for much of the time in the series.
“We really got to throw the first punch because I feel like in the first half, they did. We kinda have to match their energy in the beginning. We can’t always just play catch-up each time, right? We can’t always be like that,” he said, adding, “But next game, you guys will see a new Alaska team with the old Alaska teamwork. We’re gonna pressure on them and do our best. We just gotta get back to our base.”
For Alaska coach Alex Compton, the intention from here on is to win it all even as he said that it would not be easy against a Magnolia team raring to have the series over and done with.
“We’ll certainly try to do it. I am a basketball fan, so I will be watching on Wednesday. But I would say all the basketball fans should watch. These two teams can’t play any harder,” Mr. Compton said.
Like Mr. Enciso, the Alaska coach also underscored the need for them to get it going right from the start, citing what happened to them in Game Five.
“I am just disappointed in our first half. If you will ask me, we lost in the first half. We did not have what we showed in the second,” said Mr. Compton, who nonetheless praised the effort that his players showed in the previous game.
In Game Five, import Mike Harris led the Aces with 28 points, 20 rebounds and five assists.
Mr. Enciso and Kevin Racal, meanwhile, each had 13 points.
Game Six of the finals is on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR