Alaska Aces return to work

There will be no rest for the weary Alaska Aces. They return to work immediately after the long grinding season of the past Philippine Cup with practices starting Monday, March 8 at the Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.

We will not be taking any long vacations, said Alaska veteran Tony Dela Cruz. We will be starting practice immediately. We start practice Monday with our new import. Coach (Tim Cone) wants us ready to go by Monday.

Dela Cruz admitted they were truly beaten by the Giants. He said the Aces tried their best but lost to the better team. He said all the players on the team have dedicated themselves to doing better in the Fiesta Cup.

I gave my all after every game of that championship, said Dela Cruz. Every one of my teammates gave their all after every game. Maybe technically I could have done better. Maybe I could have shot better or rebounded better. But in terms effort I gave my 100 percent effort after every game.

The Alaska Aces bowed to the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants, 76-86, to yield Game 4 and the championship of the 2010 PBA Philippine Cup. The Giants swept Alaska 4-0 in the finals the same way that the Aces swept the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings 4-0 in the semifinals.

Lost in the din of the 4-0 sweep by Purefoods is the fact that the first three games were decided in the dying seconds. Two of those three games were decided by one point.

And Game 2 was officiated so badly that even former San Miguel Beer coach, now TV analyst, Norman Black openly questioned the calls made by the referees during the live broadcast of the game.

Overtime! said Black as the shot of Kerby Raymundo fell short and into the hands of Reynel Hugnatan. But Black was surprised to discover that referee Maui Maurillo actually made a call penalizing Joe Devance for a foul and awarding two free throws to Raymundo.

What? They (referees) called a foul? I thought they (Alaska Aces) played pretty good defense, but they (referees) called a foul, said an unbelieving Black as the TV panel rewound the video to look closely at the play in slow motion.

Well let us take a look at it. I know Kerby pump-faked. Oh that is not a very good call at the endgame of such a great game we have had today, said Black as the slow motion replay was aired.

Dela Cruz said the series could have turned out very differently if not for a few game deciding breaks (and referee calls) which altered the outcome of games.

Because we lost by 4-0 people forget how close that series was, said Dela Cruz. The first three games were decided in the closing seconds. Two of three games were won by one point. A different bounce of the ball here and there and maybe we could have been up 3-1 by Game 4 instead of losing 4-0.

Dela Cruz said they offer no excuses because they lost to the better team. He admitted that the Giants surprised them with their intensity and determination. In the end it proved enough to win the series for Purefoods.

I think they (Purefoods Giants) were running on pure adrenaline, said Dela Cruz. They struggled past Rain or Shine. They then beat the hottest team in the league in the San Miguel Beermen. By the time they met us they were on an emotional high. Maybe one loss would have deflated them. But we will never know because they were able to sweep us.

The Aces start practices Monday with a positive outlook. They start with a clean slate and get another chance to win that elusive PBA title.

Every single member of the team, from the players to the coaching staff, is eager to start practices again according to Dela Cruz.

He said that they want to make up for that loss this past conference. He said they owed it to themselves to redeem this past conference. They owed it to Alaska management who put their trust in the team. But most of all they owed it to the fans who have supported them not only all conference long but all these years.