The first day of September hailed the last Semifinals match of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup, between the Alaska Aces and Talk-and-Text. Said game is the fifth, “sudden death” one in the two teams’ harrowing Best-of-Five series.

Much to my dismay, and that is putting it VERY mildly, my beloved Aces lost. Just one more game to win to make it to the Finals, but no. It breaks the heart, after their valiant efforts to keep the team alive by winning the previous two games.

It was rather obvious early in the game that Talk-and-Text was on a roll, piling up a lead as high as 18 points. In spite of the Aces’ attempt at a rally led by import AJ Williams, it was too late to cut down the lead to a single digit. Thus, Talk-and-Text will be the one to face Red Bull in the upcoming Commy Cup Finals.

More PBA talk up ahead.

I cannot be blamed because the Alaska Aces just, indeed, made the most amazing comeback in their Best-of-Five Semifinals series against Talk-and-Text.

After losing for two straight games in said series, the Aces rallied remarkably and tallied up two wins, in Game Three last Wednesday and in Game Four earlier this evening. This battle is not without casualties, as back court dynamo John Arigo pulled a hamstring last Wednesday and had to sit out the following game. Likewise, import AJ Williams suffered a bruised nose from semi-wrestling oncourt against the more buff rival import Gerard Honeycutt.

Rodney Santos, who smoothly filled Arigo’s shoes in ball-handling and slash-shooting following the latter’s injury, was the hero of the past two games.

Ali Peek, who saw scant action for the entirety of the season due to injury, rose to the occasion and made big offensive contributions during crunch time, such as in-the-paint power moves and fearless inside shots that weaker players would never dare take right in the face of the imports.

Game Four was especially thrilling, as it was a close game right from the start. During the second half, the lead wavered by one to three points from one team to another. The Aces victory was more or less clinched when a technical, automatic ejection foul was slapped against Talk-and-Text import Honeycutt, who threw his wristband on the court and, apparently, cursed when the opponent managed to steal the ball away from him. This gave the Aces three free throws plus possession, allowing them to bring up their lead to a total of eight points.

Red Bull Thunder won their Semifinals series in Game Four, against the San Miguel Beermen. That means they would be awaiting who will win in the Alaska Aces versus Talk-and-Text Sudden Death match this Sunday – their opponent for the coveted 2002 Commissioner’s Cup.

Of course, I am fervently hoping and wishing that my beloved Aces would once again make it into the Finals series.

The Alaska Aces, in third place after the eliminations, made in into the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup Semifinals by defeating the FedEx team last Tuesday in their second Quaterfinals clash. FedEx won the first match but the Aces did not immediately get eliminated because they had a twice-to-beat advantage.

Next, the Aces had to go up against Talk-and-Text, the team which came out second after the eliminations, in a Best-of-Five series. The former was defeated in the series’ Game One last Friday, with the defeat duplicating in the second match yesterday evening. Thus, the Aces were down 0-2. One more victory and it is to the Conference Finals for Talk-and-Text.

It is very saddening to note that the Aces’ defeats were caused by too many turnovers and the deficiency in both offensive and defensive contributions from the local players. The Alaska imports, Chris Carawell and Ajani “AJ” Williams, are very hard workers, but their combined strengths would never be enough if the locals do not pitch in.

Talk-and-Text has quite a Filipino line-up to be reckoned with, including a deep bench that has some big, energetic rookies who are raring to show off their front court and back court mettle.

I am fervently hoping that the Aces will manage to hold on until Game Five, because winning this will be the only way they could get into the much-coveted Finals series.

This is fantastique!

My beloved Alaska Aces are currently tied with the San Miguel Beermen in second place overall going into the Quarterfinals of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.

This afternoon, Alaska tallied up another win by beating the much-hyped but greatly overrated national team, RP-Selecta. It was not just any victory, either; the Aces had a final score lead of 25 points.

The imports of the Aces for this season are simply superb. Ajani Williams is virtually unstoppable on a good night. Chris Carawell has the consistency and in-the-paint strength of Karl Malone, not to mention that he looks sort of like an NBA player on the court, with his poise and grace.

Alaska locals have also stepped up in their game, quite commendably. Sophomore John Arigo has improved vastly since last Season and the previous conference, where he lost touch and focus in the very crucial Game 7 of the Governor’s Cup Finals. “Ariba-ariba” Arigo is turning out to be one of the league’s most versatile young players, as he could shoot well from the perimeter, slash/drive, steal and play the part of court general.

Trade acquisition EJ Feihl has lost weight, gained speed and confidence, and increased his scoring and playing time averages. Of course, last conference’s Best Player runner-up Don Allado is still taking the extra offensive burden in the absence of franchise player Kenneth Duremdes, who was lent to the Asian Games national team.

The Aces finished second last Conference, with a rather painful Game 7 defeat in the Finals at the hands of the Purefoods Hotdogs. I have high hopes that they will get another shot at the crown this season, and hopefully go all the way to get the job done.

The Alaska Aces lost to the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs in Game Seven of the Finals of the PBA Samsung Governors Cup.

Purefoods piled on the points as early as the First Quarter, with their lead going up to as high as 16 points. Late in the Third Quarter, the Aces attempted to play catch-up, narrowing the advantage to seven points, but that was the closest they ever got to the Hotdogs.

Thus, Purefoods capped the 2002 Governors Cup championship via an impressive Game Seven defeat dealt on the Aces.

The Game Seven record of Alaska was previously 3-1, but now it has been marred with yet another loss at 3-2. Purefoods, which has never before won a Game Seven with a 0-3 win-loss card, has now upped its record with a 1-3 slate.

There are two more conferences coming up, the Commissioner’s Cup and the All-Filipino Cup. I am certain Alaska will finally bring home the bacon for this Season in any or maybe even both of these.

Wala pa ring tatalo sa Alaska!

My beloved Alaska Aces managed to force a Sudden Death Game Seven against the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs for the Philippine Basketball Association‘s Samsung Governors Cup.

Rodney Santos started for the team as he had in Games One and Two of the Finals series and got to pile on the slasher points early in the game. He was, naturally, declared the match’s Best Player.

Don Allado played on a sprained ankle but he was still awesome with the rebounds, assists and power play in the paint. He even managed to put in a slam dunk. I just hope he still gets to play in Game Seven, which will be held this Sunday.

The Purefoods TJ Hotdogs are on a roll, in more ways than one. They lorded it over the Alaska Aces for the third straight time in Game Five of the PBA Samsung Governors’ Cup Finals held earlier tonight.

Alaska had a six-point lead going into the Second Quarter, but from there on it was Purefoods all the way. Sometime during the Third Quarter, the TJ Hotdogs’ lead went to as high as 19 points.

If Purefoods wins Game Six on Thursday, they shall get the Cup and team head brain Ryan Gregorio, 25, will go down in PBA history as the third youngest coach to lead his team to a championship. I, rather inexplicably, find this entire set-up saddening. Gah.

The victories in the 2002 PBA Samsung Governors Cup are now two apiece for the Alaska Aces and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs.

With this deadlock of sorts, the Best of Seven Finals series has been reduced to a do-or-die Best of Three. Game Five will take place tomorrow, to be followed by Game Six on Thursday.

If still necessary, Game Seven is slated on Sunday. However, if one of the two teams sweeps the next two games, then it is the much-coveted Championship for them come the close of Game Six.

Game Four was painful. Alaska had a six-point lead going into the Third Quarter but their defense collapsed against the valiant Second Half efforts of Purefoods import Derek Brown and young local Richard Yap.

Apparently, Purefoods was very much inspired and fired up by the pre-game conference hullabaloo, wherein Brown was awarded Best Import of the Conference while Purefoods forward Rey Evangelista was given the Best Player of the Conference honors.

Don Allado was also running for the latter award but, unfortunately, he was not able to amass enough statistical points during the Eliminations of this present Conference.

However, with Ali Peek’s probable return off his stint in the Philippine team, Don’s playing time might be cut down a bit or some such.

We shall see.

I am glad I was not able to watch the Alaska Aces play last night.

In their third game against the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs for the PBA Governors Cup, they broke their four-game winning streak since the Semis and lost touch in the endgame.

However, all is not lost. The Aces still have a one-game edge over the Hotdogs. They likewise get a two-day break from the games, as they will be playing Game Four on Sunday. There is enough time to recuperate, rethink their strategies and find more variations for their Triangle Offense that would hopefully prove more than a match for the Purefoods defense.

My fingers are crossed for the Aces’ victory.

Wala pa ring tatalo sa Alaska!

My much-adored Alaska Aces won Game Two of the PBA Governors Cup Finals.

Two more wins and it is the Championship for them, after a few years’ Cup drought.

Yesterday’s game went into Double Overtime. The extensions caused the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs‘ downfall, because it was apparent that they did not have the raw determination to survive the long, harrowing minutes that constituted the endgame. The youthful, raring-to-go Alaska was up to the extra mile that the Double Overtime demanded.

Alaska’s win could be attributed to the significant contributions of imports Ron Riley and James Head and key locals John Arigo and Don Allado. The score was 106-102.

The Alaska Aces won Game One of the Best of Seven Finals series of the PBA Samsung Governors Cup against Purefoods in yesterday’s double-header at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces had an amazing rally, with dashing steals and very graceful completed for-foul plays, during the closing minutes of the game. Import James Head showed the makings of a true professional sportsman. He fumbled in several plays during the early parts of the second half by missing several easy, key shots but he made up for these by delivering a good number of points off turnovers. It was no surprise, of course, that he was named Player of the Game.

Filipino-American John Arigo, THE prettiest, also pulled off a stunning consistent performance all throughout the game, the highlights of which were several lightning-quick drives and three-point shots. He was backed up by the ever-growing stability of Brian Gahol and Don Allado in the paint.

In the game preceding this Finals highlight, the Coca-Cola Panthers beat the San Miguel Beermen in a one-shot match for Third Place.

The Finals of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governor’s Cup will start on Sunday, 12 May. It is to be played between the Alaska Aces and Purefoods TJ Hotdogs.

Tonight, Purefoods beat Coca-Cola in the deciding game of their Best-of-Five Semi-Finals series. This was followed by Alaska’s victory over the San Miguel Beermen in a game of similar standing.

Alaska’s bid to return to the Finals after several conferences’ drought is at last being realized. It is good to see that the team is starting to gel together, combining the experience and grace-under-pressure wisdom of its veterans with the enthusiasm and vigor of its younger players. Perhaps the return of Jojo Lastimosa to once more lead his “home” team to get the Championship Ring has proven to be a great statistical intangible.

It is also very gratifying to see Alaska beat the Beermen. San Miguel has qualified for the Finals in six out of the last nine Conferences in the PBA. They have likewise encountered Alaska in several Semis series but have always won. Well, it seems that now the tables have turned and Milk has proven its supremacy over Beer.

I hope the Alaska locals will each continue to contribute their unique touches in both offense and defense in the the upcoming Best-of-Seven Finals series.

I am also rooting for team imports Ron Riley, our token Patrick Ewing dead-ringer, and James Head, who have really risen to the occasion tonight after several bad fumbles in the early quarters, surpassing hype and transcending the functions of their court positions.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governor’s Cup Semi-Finals is on to its last lap of games, with the Alaska-versus-San Miguel series tying at 2-2 with the Aces’ victory today.

There will be a deciding game on Friday as to which team will make it to the Finals, to play against the winner of the Purefood-versus-Coca-Cola series.

I am so glad that John Arigo and Don Allado were given Players of the Game honors in today’s Alaska win. Coach Tim Cone should really give his younger players more minutes as he is doing now, with Kenneth Duremdes and Ali Peek on a stint in the Philippine Team for the upcoming Asian Games.

The younger Alaska Aces players seem to be raring to go and very much eager to prove themselves. For those who have not seen Arigo on the floor, you should. He puts the Energizer Bunny to shame.

Of course, my affection for Don Allado is undeniable. Especially now that he has BeeGees hair.