THE last season started with so much promise for the Alaska Aces, finishing at the second spot after the elimination round of the Philippine Cup.
It was, however, mostly downhill for them after that point as they lost to eventual finalist Ginebra in the quarterfinals even if they were holding a twice-to-beat edge.
Things got even worse for the storied franchise as they failed to make it to the playoffs in both the Commissioner's and Governors' Cups where they also suffered their worse losing skid in franchise history.
Heading into the new season, head coach Alex Compton is hopeful that they would have a better performance as they're slowly getting better approaching their new quest for Alaska's 15th PBA title.
"The first part of our off season was rest," Compton said after Alaska competed in a four-team pocket tournament with Phoenix, NLEX, and Rain or Shine.
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"After last season, we just needed time away. But because we rested so well, we're not in shape yet. If the season were today, we'd be behind but the season is not today so we need to slowly build ourselves up to where we want to be physically."
Compton also stated that the favorites in the upcoming Philippine Cup will be last season's finalists.
"I think everybody is going to have a really hard time with San Miguel and Ginebra. I see things that will enable us to compete with them if we have some guys healthy but that's (the same with) most teams in the league," Compton said.
"What's nice for the fans is that there are a bunch of teams that could beat each other on any given day. You have Blackwater, Phoenix, NLEX, Meralco, Rain or Shine, Alaska, Star, TNT. I know Star and TNT were in all three semis so they're a little bit on that upper tier and then you have San Miguel and Ginebra.
Looking at the eight teams with their coaches, systems, and players, I really think any of those teams can beat anyone else and that makes for good basketball," Compton noted.
Although Compton put SMB and Ginebra, last season's champions, on a pedestal, he clarified that he doesn't think they cannot be defeated.
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"They have a little bit of an edge. They're not unbeatable but they're really good. They're still composed of human beings so that makes them not unbeatable," Compton said. "You have to play really well for a chance to beat those two teams."
"I'm expecting a bunch of good games with the new crop of rookies and the movement that has happened. There are a lot of teams that got better. There will be a bunch of us really jumbled up in the middle and hopefully, that provides a lot of good basketball for the fans to enjoy." (Carlo Pamintuan)
