Getting their groove back (In Retrospect 22)
THEY’RE finally winning.
Coming off one of the most disappointing campaigns in a decade last conference, the Alaska Aces seem to be hitting their stride in an attempt to evoke memories of past success. Coach Tim Cone’s wards may not be on top of any statistical category, but his squad is getting the job done beyond the box score.
In their 99-84 thumping of Air21, the Aces took a page out of the Express’ playbook by scoring a conference-high 30 fastbreak points, while putting up a +8 advantage in rebounds and +7 in points of turnovers, with five Aces scoring in double-digits. Five days later, Alaska left it late but eventually won a game they deserved by keeping the Talk N Text Phone Pals scoreless in the final four minutes of the game to seal an 86-79 win.
Cone, in a conversation with Standard Today, said the team’s chemistry is improving, and expressed optimism despite some things he’s tweaking. “I like our chemistry, it’s getting better. Also, we’re using Willy [Wilson] as a two, while turning Reynel [Hugnatan] into someone like Lamar Odom, using him outside to hit jump shots.”
The multi-titled mentor explained that even the team’s attitude is more positive. “Last conference, we had some players complaining about playing time. That’s why we decided to cut our depth by trading Rich [Alvarez] and Brandon [Cablay]. We have less guards, but it’s okay. This time, we have a five that can start and finish games, and players who don’t have to look at the bench when they make mistakes.”
On the other end of the spectrum, things are looking quite dim for the Barangay Ginebra Kings, who are on a three-game losing skid as they followed up their 59-point performance against San Miguel with a 56-point output versus the Purefoods Chunkee Giants, who put up 73 to win their contest. Air21 split their games this week at the expense of the Kings, who, despite managing to score 98 points, gave up 109 in the process.
Again, defense seems to be the Kings’ problem. When they shift from a zone to a man-to-man, spaces emerge, allowing opponents to capitalize. Players don’t know their roles in the defensive scheme. When the Kings played a box and 1 against Air21, only Mark Caguioa knew he was guarding Renren Ritualo, while the rest of his teammates didn’t know if they were playing man or zone.
Perhaps, the Kings can learn a thing or two from the Coca Cola Tigers, whose expertise lies in the smooth transition of shifting from one type of defense to another and back at will. Speaking of the Tigers, they remain the only unbeaten team in the league after beating San Miguel, 75-72.
The Beermen, meanwhile, won the league’s first provincial game this conference with a come-from-behind 95-90 triumph against Red Bull. Noteworthy was the way the Beermen destroyed the Bulls’ interior, with Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Peña combining for 47 points and 24 rebounds. Red Bull, meanwhile, defeated the lethargic Sta. Lucia Realtors, 104-90, behind the stellar play of Mick Pennisi and Paolo Bugia, who made up for the sub-par performances of their more celebrated teammates like Enrico Villanueva.
In the league’s second sanctioned overseas game ever, Talk N Text, which is mired at the bottom of the team standings with Sta. Lucia and is in the middle of its worst start since the 2001 All-Filipino Conference with Louie Alas at the coaching helm, defeated Purefoods, 88-66. Against the Chunkee Giants, Talk N Text held Purefoods to season-lows in scoring and field goal percentage.
Stats of the week: Barangay Ginebra beat its season-low scoring output of 59 points with 56 against Purefoods…Contrary to what I wrote last week, the all-time league scoring low is 47 points, while Ginebra’s franchise-low is 54 points…The Kings’ main gun, Eric Menk, scored a measly 4 points on 2 for 14 shooting in 30 minutes of play against the Chunkee Giants…Purefoods shot a conference-low 27.8 percent from the field against Talk N Text in Hong Kong…After scoring 19 points in his first game this conference, Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel has chipped in just 13 points total over his next four games.
Coming off one of the most disappointing campaigns in a decade last conference, the Alaska Aces seem to be hitting their stride in an attempt to evoke memories of past success. Coach Tim Cone’s wards may not be on top of any statistical category, but his squad is getting the job done beyond the box score.
In their 99-84 thumping of Air21, the Aces took a page out of the Express’ playbook by scoring a conference-high 30 fastbreak points, while putting up a +8 advantage in rebounds and +7 in points of turnovers, with five Aces scoring in double-digits. Five days later, Alaska left it late but eventually won a game they deserved by keeping the Talk N Text Phone Pals scoreless in the final four minutes of the game to seal an 86-79 win.
Cone, in a conversation with Standard Today, said the team’s chemistry is improving, and expressed optimism despite some things he’s tweaking. “I like our chemistry, it’s getting better. Also, we’re using Willy [Wilson] as a two, while turning Reynel [Hugnatan] into someone like Lamar Odom, using him outside to hit jump shots.”
The multi-titled mentor explained that even the team’s attitude is more positive. “Last conference, we had some players complaining about playing time. That’s why we decided to cut our depth by trading Rich [Alvarez] and Brandon [Cablay]. We have less guards, but it’s okay. This time, we have a five that can start and finish games, and players who don’t have to look at the bench when they make mistakes.”
On the other end of the spectrum, things are looking quite dim for the Barangay Ginebra Kings, who are on a three-game losing skid as they followed up their 59-point performance against San Miguel with a 56-point output versus the Purefoods Chunkee Giants, who put up 73 to win their contest. Air21 split their games this week at the expense of the Kings, who, despite managing to score 98 points, gave up 109 in the process.
Again, defense seems to be the Kings’ problem. When they shift from a zone to a man-to-man, spaces emerge, allowing opponents to capitalize. Players don’t know their roles in the defensive scheme. When the Kings played a box and 1 against Air21, only Mark Caguioa knew he was guarding Renren Ritualo, while the rest of his teammates didn’t know if they were playing man or zone.
Perhaps, the Kings can learn a thing or two from the Coca Cola Tigers, whose expertise lies in the smooth transition of shifting from one type of defense to another and back at will. Speaking of the Tigers, they remain the only unbeaten team in the league after beating San Miguel, 75-72.
The Beermen, meanwhile, won the league’s first provincial game this conference with a come-from-behind 95-90 triumph against Red Bull. Noteworthy was the way the Beermen destroyed the Bulls’ interior, with Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Peña combining for 47 points and 24 rebounds. Red Bull, meanwhile, defeated the lethargic Sta. Lucia Realtors, 104-90, behind the stellar play of Mick Pennisi and Paolo Bugia, who made up for the sub-par performances of their more celebrated teammates like Enrico Villanueva.
In the league’s second sanctioned overseas game ever, Talk N Text, which is mired at the bottom of the team standings with Sta. Lucia and is in the middle of its worst start since the 2001 All-Filipino Conference with Louie Alas at the coaching helm, defeated Purefoods, 88-66. Against the Chunkee Giants, Talk N Text held Purefoods to season-lows in scoring and field goal percentage.
Stats of the week: Barangay Ginebra beat its season-low scoring output of 59 points with 56 against Purefoods…Contrary to what I wrote last week, the all-time league scoring low is 47 points, while Ginebra’s franchise-low is 54 points…The Kings’ main gun, Eric Menk, scored a measly 4 points on 2 for 14 shooting in 30 minutes of play against the Chunkee Giants…Purefoods shot a conference-low 27.8 percent from the field against Talk N Text in Hong Kong…After scoring 19 points in his first game this conference, Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel has chipped in just 13 points total over his next four games.
posted by Christian Soler @ 11:58 PM
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