Cariaso’s playing comes of age

Alaska Aces’ Jeff Cariaso was given the PBA award for his 5,000th assist during the past Philippine Cup. In the basketball world of superstars, the award cites the unselfish action of a player to help others to score instead of scoring himself.

Alaska Aces’ Jeff Cariaso was given the PBA award for his 5,000th assist during the past Philippine Cup. In the basketball world of superstars, the award cites the unselfish action of a player to help others to score instead of scoring himself.

At this point in his 15th year career in the PBA Jeff is doubly proud of this award. He explained in an interview that, “It’s good, particularly it’s a different feeling because it’s you willing to share the ball as to be a willing teammate. So it is something that I am proud of and it is nice to be acknowledged.”

As a veteran in the league, Jeff sees his role changing through the years to his present position. He admits that, “Yeah, that (assists) is an aspect that I guess you naturally put more emphasis in as you get older in your career.”

Even coach Tim Cone acknowledges Jeff’s role in their games as a veteran leader. Jeff enjoys the role because, “It’s something that is coming natural for me, so encouraging the guys, talking to the guys and that is becoming second nature for me.”

Jeff accepts the role as part of his life after all the years in the PBA. “It’s, I guess, it is part of the developing and improving myself as a player and as a leader,” Jeff says.

The final series was the big opportunity for team players like Jeff to prove themselves. He played his best to help his teammates, “Try to work hard and to get back to where we are now, you never know when you are able to come back. When you are gonna reach the finals again so why not just put everything on the line and then we will see what happens.”

Jeff is no longer the Alaska Aces’ go-to guy on offense. Other than getting his teammates involved on offense Cone says the primary responsibility of Jeff is to provide leadership on the floor especially on defense.

The veteran mentor says Jeff’s value is not measured in terms of his offense. More than that Jeff is the leader of the Alaska defense and the overall leader of the team.
Cone says that it is just a bonus when Jeff has good shooting nights.

Facilitator on the offensive end and defensive stopper and lockdown defender at the other end. That has become Jeff’s primary role in Alaska. He first joined the Alaska Aces in 1995 when he won Rookie of the Year honors.

The Aces won the coveted Grand Slam in 1996 and by end of the season, Bong Hawkins, Jojo Lastimosa and Jeff were included in the Mythical team while Johnny Abarrientos went on to capture the coveted Most Valuable Player award.

Jeff is the only active player remaining on that Alaska Grand Slam team of 1996. And as facilitator on the offensive end and defensive leader it will be his job to help the Aces win their 13th PBA title.