Reynel Hugnatan does not just look strong, he really is very strong. In the benchmark test for strength conducted by Alaska trainer Gus Vargas the 29-year-old native of Bacolod City completed the most number of bench presses, cranking out 12 repetitions while bench pressing 185 lbs.

Sonny Thoss and Tony Dela Cruz cranked out 10 repetitions while Willie Miller managed six repetitions.

LA Tenorio topped the Speed and Agility Test completing the course in 15.5 seconds. Close behind him are Miller and Jeff Cariaso who submitted times of 15.8 and 15.9, respectively.

Ang main areas that the players should develop are their strength; their verticality or ability to jump high; their laterality or yung ability to change direction fast without losing their balance; their linear speed or the ability to sprint up and down the court; and then ang kanilang multi-directional or the ability to change direction while sprinting, said Vargas.

Once he has completed collating the data Vargas will compare the abilities of the Aces in a standard comparison against scores of NCAA Division I collegiate players and NCAA players in the pre-draft camp for NBA players.

The Alaska trainer says the goal is for the Aces to approximate the abilities of these NBA-caliber athletes.
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The Alaska Aces, determined to post a better showing this coming Fiesta Conference, started their daily practices at the Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.

Fifteen players, including hopefuls in big men Eric Canlas and Mark Andaya, showed up at the Reyes Gym training facility hoping to win coveted spots in the Alaska roster.

The other players were: Willie Miller, Sonny Thoss, LA Tenorio, Jeff Cariaso, John Ferriols, Reynel Hugnatan, Tony Dela Cruz, Larry Fonacier, Eddie Laure, Poch Juinio, JR Quinahan, Jun Cabatu and Ariel Capus.

We measured the capabilities of the players, said Alaska trainer Gus Vargas. Among the yardsticks was the Agility Run where players are made to run over a course which required them to change directions multiple times during the run. We will then compare the ability of the Aces to players who joined the incoming pre-draft camp of NBA players.

Other tests include the 30 meter acceleration run where players are made to run from baseline to the opposite free throw line or about ¾ of the court.

We will measure the acceleration rate of every player, said Vargas. After two months of training mag re-remeasure kami to find out how much they have improved.
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Despite the early exit of the Alaska Aces in the 2008 PBA Fiesta Cup there were some bright spots and the brightest is the ever improving play of Alaska center Sonny Thoss.

While the other local centers - like Rico Villanueva, Homer Se and even Asi Taulava - played out of position at power forward to accommodate their big imports Thoss manned the center slot for the Alaska Aces during the past Fiesta Conference.

The 26-year-old Thoss scored almost 10 points, plucked 8.1 rebounds, issued 1.7 assists, and tallied one block per game the past season to earn a berth in the mythical second team of the PBA.

However, he was quick to downplay his achievement and expressed his respect for the other big men in the league.

I still find hard it to believe that I won that second team selection, said Thoss. But I am happy that I got where I am. There are a lot of talented big guys in the league. I do not see any difference between me and them. I guess I just got lucky to win the selection.

Thoss confessed that after winning the award he was motivated to work even harder this off season in preparation for the coming All-Filipino conference. He even stayed in the country and did not vacation abroad just so he could focus on his physical and mental preparation for the coming conference.

I did not go anywhere, said Thoss. I just stayed here in Manila and took care of some things. But mainly I just worked really hard to get myself ready for the next conference.
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Willie Miller and Sonny Thoss were named to the Philippine Basketball Association mythical second team in simple awarding ceremonies before the start of Game Four of the championship of the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 31-year-old Miller averaged 17.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, four assists and 1.1 steals a game during the past year to earn the nod.

Natuwa na rin ako dahil kahit papaano nanalo ako ng award, said Miller. Mas masarap kung pagkatapos mo makakuha ng award ay maglalaro ka sa finals. Kaya noong makuha ko ang award ko umalis na ako agad. Ayaw ko kasing manood ng basketball kung hindi ako maglalaro. Hindi ko ma-take kaya umalis na agad ako.

Miller and his family are still on vacation but he went to Manila for a quick visit to accept his award.

Nagbabakasyon kami ngayon ng pamilya ko sa Olongapo, said Miller. Lumayo talaga ako sa basketball. Ayaw kong makakarinig o makapanood ng basketball dahil masakit pag tinatanong ako bakit na eliminate kami agad.

The coming Philippine Cup is a good two months away but already Miller is raring to go back into action to make up for their disappointing year.
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Great news for Alaska Aces fans.

Mainstays John Ferriols, Reynel Hugnatan and Tony Dela Cruz, whose contracts expired last July 31, have been offered extensions by Alaska management.

Our priority is to keep the team intact, said Alaska COO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu. We will be drafting fifth in the coming Draft which everybody thinks will be a thin draft. We do not see any players, that we could draft, who could make an immediate impact with the team.

Players with live contracts include team captain Jeff Cariaso, Willie Miller, Sonny Thoss, JR Quinahan, Larry Fonacier and LA Tenorio.

Other players hoping to get offers for renewal are Eddie Laure, Jun Cabatu, Aaron Aban, Rensy Bajar, Ariel Capus and Poch Juinio.

Ferriols, Hugnatan and Dela Cruz, arguably the most valuable and most talented of the Alaska free agents, were the first to receive contract offers.

My goal is to help Alaska win another PBA title, said Ferriols. I am not even thinking of winning any individual award. I just want to help Alaska win. My biggest contributions to the team are my defense, my strength and my hustle.
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A few days ago Jeffrey THE JET Cariaso and his family flew home to San Francisco, USA for an extended vacation. Fans need not fret though because he will be back in a few weeks just in time for the pre-season camp of the Alaska Aces in preparation for the next PBA season.

Thirty five year old Cariaso took the well earned vacation after completing his 14th PBA season but you would not have known it from just watching him play this past 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference.

He does not have as much punch and explosiveness in his first step or take flight as often but he shoots just as well from any distance from the court. He can still take it strong to the hoop and finish with flourish. He can also still shadow the top gun of the opposing team.

Jeff is assuming a different role with the team, said Alaska COO Wilfred Steven Uytengsu. He is still the team captain. But he has taken on more of a leadership role. He doesn’t just play and leads by example he also talks to his teammates and gives veteran advice especially to the younger players.

The way Cariaso plays has also changed over the years. From the being the slasher and lockdown defender during his first tour of duty with Alaska, he has mellowed over the years. Nowadays he also serves as senior player and role model to his teammates.

He is still called the Jet but you don’t see his high-flying moves as much, said Uytengsu. But he is still a good player. He still has a role to play with Alaska. That is why we welcomed him back to the team. (more…)

With the Alaska Aces eliminated from the 2008 Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference Willie Miller has opted to bring his family home to Olongapo for an extended vacation to recharge his batteries.

Masakit na ma-eliminate ng ganoon kaaga, said Miller. Kaya umuwi na lang ako dito sa Olongapo one week after the close of the season for us. Ayaw ko na muna isipin ang basketball. Bakasyon na muna kami ng pamilya ko.

The 31-year-old shooting guard out of Letran College also has a condo unit in Mandaluyong but still calls Olongapo his home. After all that is where he and wife Kate were born and grew up.

Miller says that he wants to get away and not think about basketball at all for a while.

Wala nga akong computer o internet dito sa bahay ko sa Olongapo, said Miller in a long distance telephone interview. I will not even be able to surf the net for any PBA related news. Sayang nga lang hindi ko pa nakikita ang MTV ko na uploaded na sa Alaska Web site. Magugustuhan sigurado ng mga anak ko. Sila ang pumili ng song para doon sa MTV ko.

Former Letran coach Mollet Pineda was the first to spot the potential of Miller. Pineda brought Miller to Letran to join the Knights. In his first year he won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Rookie of the Year award.
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Professional basketball players all have personal goals they want to chase after. Alaska Aces point guard LA Tenorio wants nothing less than the championship in the coming Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino conference.

My number one personal goal is to win the coming All-Filipino title with the Alaska Aces, says Tenorio. Sa lahat ng level meron akong championship. High school, college, sa Philippine Basketball League. Sa PBA na lang ako walang championship. Sana makuha ko rin ito.

This is a lofty target considering that the Alaska Aces were eliminated in the Wildcard Phase of the ongoing 2008 PBA Fiesta Cup. But it is not unheard of. After all the Aces were also eliminated in the Wildcard phase of the previous conference just before they won the 2007 PBA Fiesta Cup crown.

Sana sa susunod na All-Filipino sa next conference makuha namin ang championship, said Tenorio. Maganda ang All Filipino conference. Mas prestigious ang All Filipino sa lahat ng conference. So ang goal ko talaga manalo ng PBA championship bago man lang mag expire ang contract ko next year.

Tenorio was traded by Magnolia for Mike Cortez last conference. He is in the second year of a three-year pact he inked with the San Miguel franchise. Like the other Alaska Aces players Tenorio is disappointed with the early vacation.

Sobrang napaaga ang bakasyon namin talaga, said Tenorio. Kasi sa tingin ko nasa learning process kami. Maraming nadagdag sa team. Si Larry (Fonacier), ang import (Randy Holcomb) at ako. Tatlo ang nadagdag sa rotation ni coach Tim (Cone). Masyado maikli ang time para mag gel lahat.
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It is not an accident why Alaska is second (and closing fast) in the most number of championships won in Philippine Basketball Association history.

Veteran Jeffrey THE JET Cariaso says Alaska is special because everyone in the organization works hard and performs their jobs with a high level of dedication and professionalism.

You tend to see that and want to do your own job better, says Cariaso. You can be in the main office working for marketing or sales. You can be a staff in our plant making sure the milk is packaged well. You can be a driver delivering milk to a supermarket or even a shooting guard for the Alaska Aces professional basketball team in the PBA.

Whatever your job, Cariaso says, you will be part of a company where everyone employed in it is dedicated and hardworking. Alaska employees become better individuals because they strive for excellence and set goals seemingly beyond their reach.

Being with Alaska, I have learned how to handle challenges better, says Cariaso. I guess you can say my experience through the years played an important factor also. But how you handle adversity is key to know what the next step is.

The Jet admits that he is far from perfect. But having gone through trials in life he says he has learned to handle the tough times better. He says that a lot will depend on your frame of mind and what you choose to focus on.
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