MANILA : Alaska is off to a flying start, but despite that, the squad’s spiritual leader believes that the key to their early success is that they have remained grounded.
The Aces ripped Burger King apart Friday night, rolling to an 87-73 victory at the Cuneta Astrodome for a 6-0 card in the PBA Philippine Cup, a start that, the last time it happened, meant championships for one of the PBA’s proudest franchises.
“I know that people are talking about our start in ‘96 and ‘98, and those were very special teams that I was fortunate to be a part of,” Jeffrey Cariaso, the last remnant of the last Alaska squad that had similar 6-0 starts, told reporters later.
“One comparison (with those teams with the one we have now) is that we genuinely like each other,” added the former Rookie of the Year and member of the 1996 Grand Slam team.
“When you guys talk about being family, I think we really are, and with that, good things happen,” he continued. “What’s pretty amazing (about this team) is that the guys know how to stay grounded, to stay humble and keep worrying about tomorrow (despite the hot start).”
Willie Miller scored 13 points in the first period and went on to lead all Alaska shooters with 19, while hard-working forward Reynel Hugnatan chipped in with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Ronjay Buenafe led the Whoppers with 15 points, but it was clear that Burger King didn’t have the firepower to match up with the Aces, who play winless Rain or Shine next in a game which coach Tim Cone said he fears the most.
Burger King, which will be without Wynne Arboleda, banned for the rest of the year, dropped to 1-4 as remaining superstar Gary David continued to struggle with just five markers in 19 minutes.
“You never want to play a game against a team that hasn’t won a game. They come out with a sense of desperation,” Cone said of the Elasto Painters, who are in the absolute opposite end of the pack with a 0-5 slate.
“If you get to the level that you think you’re good enough, the game gets pretty hard fast.”
The Aces steadily broke away from the Whoppers, posting their first 20-point lead with under two minutes left in the third period when the lefty Hugnatan canned a right-handed reverse for 70-50.
From there, Alaska, which won this tournament in 1996 and 1998 after 6-0 starts, took a couple of 26-point spreads and was never really threatened, even if the Aces went into cruise control in the latter half of the fourth period.
And while the Aces are playing fluid ball, Barangay Ginebra still found ways to win even with Jay-Jay Helterbrand following Mark Caguioa in the injured list.
The reigning MVP was out of commission in the nightcap, but the Gin Kings still mangled the Barako Bull Energy Boosters, 94-86, behind 22 points from Cyrus Baguio and 17 from Ronald Tubid.
“We’re back to (being) an unhealthy team,” Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said. “We are again trying to find ways to be competitive. I just hope to get my injured players back (playing) soon.”
Helterbrand was sidelined because of a strained left knee and will be out at least for their next game tomorrow, against Rain or Shine.
Uichico said that his point guard could be back as early as next week, but is just keeping his fingers crossed after coaching staff was given no assurances by team physicians.
Ginebra actually led by 17 points twice, and found the sailing rough in the fourth period when the Kings almost ran out of point guards to finish the game,
Former MVP Johnny Abarrientos was actually plucked out from the reserved list to spell Helterbrand, and the all-time great did a good account of himself until he sustained a freak cut on the index finger in the third quarter.
Abarrientos played 10 well-applauded minutes in the first half and already collected six assists, three rebounds and a steal, until he went for another swipe just a minute back in the game in the third against Paolo Hubalde.
Leo Najorda paced the Energy Boosters with 15 points, Jojo Duncil had 12 like Aris Dimaunahan and Alex Crisano completed a double-double with 12 markers and 10 boards.
Barako Bull slid to 2-3.
