Alaska Aces Jeffrey Cariaso and Head Coach Alex Compton (MB Photo | Rio Leonelle Deluvio) [19659005] ->
Alaska Aces Jeffrey Cariaso and Head Coach Alex Compton (Leon Leon Deluvio MB)
by Jonas Terrado
Alex Compton remains convinced that he and the Alaska Aces will one day be able to beat the hump against San Miguel Beermen after a semifinal of the PBA Commissaires Cup on Sunday night.
"For us, we continue to fight and one day we will have this breakthrough," Compton said after the 104-99 Smart Araneta Coliseum defeat on Sunday, which saw San Miguel win Series 3 -1 in the semifinals of the best five.
time that Compton and the Aces lost to the Beermen in the playoffs, counting the three defeats in 2015 and 2016 Philippine Cup and Finale of the Governors & # 39; Cup 2015.
"Everyone seems to want to say & # 39; Oh, Alaska can not seem to beat San Miguel "while in fact we beat them more than any league team in terms of games over the past four years" Compton said after the 104-99 Sunday's defeat at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. That does not mean that we are as good as them, but I would say that the opposite is true. I would say we gave them more than they wanted – and in some interesting game conditions at times. And we will continue to fight. "
The last disappointment of the playoffs against the Beermen ended a campaign that saw the Aces continue their slow climb after two campaigns lost at the last two conferences last season." Alaska climbed on the shoulders Vic Manuel, the best player of the conference, to finish second in the eliminations before moving to the semi-finals by defeating Magnolia in the quarters.
The Aces reached the semi-finals despite an indefinite suspension Calvin Abueva, the coup Dagger involving rookie Jeron Teng, the sudden departure of the original import Antonio Campbell late in the playoffs and the absence of Chris Banchero in the semi-final due to family.
Despite the odds, the As, with Diamon Simpson, who was injured in the ankle, threatened to push the Beermen to the limit after stopping a sweep in the third match.
"Just a crazy, a Ctually the conference the craziest I've ever had as a coach here. All the things that happened, they did not apologize. They continued to fight as we want, have this determination of steel and continue to fight. And as a coach and as the leader of this team, I want that kind of determination to be rewarded, "said Compton.
Tags: Alaska Aces, Alex Compton, Governor's Cup, PBA, PBA Cup, San Miguel, San Miguel Beermen