Team History

2000-Present: Alaska Aces

As part of the PBA’s objective of strengthening itself, the pro league put a marketing plan in place as early as 1999, along with the marketing heads of the member companies. However, it was only in 2000 that the PBA completed its relaunch marketing campaign. Following the footsteps of the National Basketball Association (NBA) of the US, the look of the teams were likewise overhauled, with the use of exciting team monickers and uniforms.

After through research and numerous discussions, Alaska chose the monicker Alaska Aces and sported its new red, white and black uniforms. Alaska chose “Aces” since these refer to fighter pilots with hidden and powerful advantages that opponents fail to match. The monicker was also short, crisp and easily-recalled among fans.

Before the 2001 season, the Aces traded its biggest star Johnny Abarrientos to the Pop Cola Panthers for forward Ali Peek. The trade triggered reactions and questions from fans of the league and the team. In the annual draft however, Alaska used the fifth pick to draft Fil-Am John Arigo. The Aces also signed Duremdes to a reported 48 million peso deal for seven years.

In the All-Filipino, the Aces were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Abarrientos and his new team Pop Cola. In the Commissioners Cup, a strong showing by Ali Peek gave defending champion San Miguel a fight but Alaska Aces still experienced loss in five games of the semis. In the Governors Cup, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Chambers retired three games into the Governors Cup. In a simple ceremony, the Aces retired his #20 jersey, becoming the second player in the team’s history to have his number retired.

Duremdes was borrowed to the national pool in 2002 and Jojo Lastimosa made his return to Alaska. The Aces, with Ron Riley and James Head as imports, advanced to the finals of the Governor’s Cup against Purefoods. The Aces led 2-0 in the seven game series, but the TJ Hotdogs won the next three games. After Alaska tied it up in Game Six, Purefoods won Game Seven to deny the Aces its 11th title. In the Commissioner’s Cup, Ajani Williams and Head bannered the Aces but was eliminated by Talk N’ Text in the semi-finals. Duremdes returned for the Aces in the All-Filipino and made Alaska to the finals. After winning Game One, the Aces lost the next three games to settle for another runner-up finish.

During the 2003 PBA Draft, the league was shocked when the news that Alaska had traded Duremdes to the Sta. Lucia Realtors for the fifth pick of the first round was announced. This move enabled Alaska to land Brandon Cablay to the team.

The Aces also had the first overall pick in the draft and selected De La Salle University-Manila star point guard Mike Cortez, who was considered as the next great point guard in Alaska franchise following Abarrientos. Mike Cortez, known as “The Cool Cat”, was one of the most popular players in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and led his collegiate team to two championships.

During halftime of their season opening game, Alaska retired Jojo Lastimosa’s #6 jersey. During the offseason, Lastimosa announced his retirement after playing 15 seasons in the league to become one of Alaska Aces’ assistant coaches and the Executive Director of Alaska youth sports development program, the Alaska Basketball Power Camp.

In the 2003 All-Filipino Conference, Alaska failed in its bid to enter the Finals as they were eliminated by Talk N’ Text in a grueling five-game series.

In the Invitational tournament, Alaska had to play in the qualifying round to enter the tournament. The Aces swept the round to enter the tournament, won all four games of the elimination round and made it to the semis. In a one-game showdown, Alaska defeated Red Bull Barako to face Coca Cola in the Finals.

The Tigers won Game One of the series, but the Aces won the next two games to win their 11th PBA title, this time with a different set of players. Brandon Cablay was named as Finals MVP while Ali Peek won Best Player of the Conference honors.
In the Reinforced Conference, Alaska struggled in the tournament and was eliminated by the Duremdes-led Sta. Lucia team in the quarters.

Alaska paraded former NBA journeyman Galen Young for the 2004 Fiesta Cup Conference. The Aces placed second after the elimination round of the tournament. But, they failed to enter the semis , winning only one game in three outings.

In the 2004-05 season, the Aces managed to finished fourth in the qualifying round. After eliminating FedEx in the Wild-Card phase, they were swept by San Miguel in the quarters. During the tournament, Arigo and Peek were shipped to Coca-Cola for Jeffrey Cariaso and Reynel Hugnatan. Bong Hawkins also made his return to the Aces, reuniting him with Cariaso, Assistant Coach Jojo Lastimosa and Tim Cone.

Alaska brought in Leon Derricks for the Fiesta Conference. However, he played inconsistent games and was promptly replaced by former Chicago Bull Dickey Simpkins. The addition of Simpkins helped Alaska climbed into third at the end of the classification round. The Aces faced Red Bull Barako in the semis, but Bryan Gahol’s (a former Alaska Aces player) game-winner in Game Three eliminated Alaska out of the tournament.

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