A GLIMPSE of just how far Alaska has gone in its new direction should be had when it collides with Columbian Friday in the kickoff match of the PBA Governors Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Two fresh acquisitions in Maverick Ahanmisi and Abu Tratter, plus an unfamiliar face in import Justin Watts and new head coach Jeff Cariaso, are what the Aces would be unveiling following a frenetic re-tooling over the past month.
Columbian coach Johnedel Cardel hopes the relatively limited time Alaska had to familiarize with its newcomers would work in his team's favor. "Siyempre, sana hindi pa enough 'yung adjustment period nila," he said on the eve of the match.
"Pero on our part, we're ready," added Cardel, now in his fourth conference at the helm of the franchise formerly known as Kia.
The Dyip have had to make a few adjustments of their own, mainly regarding new acquisitions Juami Tiongson, Lervin Flores and Joseph Gabayni.
Sponsored content: Khapri Alston is also a newcomer to local shores, but Cardel believes the three weeks the former Midwestern State alum has had would be enough.
"Six-foot-3 1/2 , 245 pounds, quick-learner and mataas ang basketball IQ so he readily fit in," related Cardel.
Cardel also did some scouting on Watts. "Quick and agile, can play either 1 or 2 (point guard or shooting guard) and has a decent jumper," noted Cardel.
"Our team defense must be spot-on if we want to contain Watts."
The Dyip are now in their fourth conference under head coach Johnedel Cardel and, like their foes, have crammed their newcomers into their system.
Sponsored content: Understandably, both teams simply want to get off a good start in the season-ending conference that features an 11-game eliminations to determine the top eight quarterfinalists.
As an added incentive, the top four finishers are each rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage over a lower-ranked foe in the last eight and that is a target that Cardel has put on his team's collective sights.
"Last conference may mga five games we could have won," offered Cardel, who has failed to steer his team past the elims in his tenure so far.
"Kung naipanalo lang namin kahit dalawa doon nakapasok n asana kami ng quarterfinals. Pero that remains the goal right now, to win as many games as we can and see where that takes us."
The arrival of Tiongson gives Cardel another legitimate point guard aside from JP Calvo while Flores and Gabayni add more meat the Columbian's frontcourt that has Jackson Corpuz, still to fully recover from his knee injury.
But the Dyip's bid largely hinges on what CJ Perez can bring to them following his stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the recent FIBA World Cup.
"We gave him some days off... but he's been practicing with us for a week now," related Cardel.
"Tumaas lalo ang kompiyansa at gigil ng maglaro ulit sa PBA." (NC)
