IN an era where team supporters can unwittingly feed information to rivals via social media, professional teams are taking much precaution.
Members of the media have been barred from entering the Hoops Center during Aces practice since the start of the PBA Philippine Cup title series, and now fans can move no farther than the gym entrance until after practice when they are allowed to mingle with players and take pictures and videos.
“We need to focus on what we are doing and nothing else,” coach Alex Compton told Spin.ph on Monday.
The focus on Monday, undoubtedly, is on trying to not fall way behind anew after Alaska slipped into a huge hole early the night before and needed to mount a huge fightback from 21 points behind in the second half to take the upperhand in the best-of-seven series.
[See Alaska pulls off mother of all comebacks in Game Three to take 2-1 lead over San Miguel in PBA Finals]
“I’m sorry that you can’t see our practice, but if you can see, the guys go really hard,” Compton said during the post-game press conference of Game Three.
It was the second time Alaska rallied from a spread of more than 20 points as it also climbed from a 22-point hole in Game One to take an 88-82 overtime victory.
Alaska is still two wins away from the all-Filipino crown, and is eager to close out the series
Among the Aces, only Eric Menk has won the coveted title, having led Barangay Ginebra in the 2005 Philippine Cup.
“Siguro motivation rin 'yun sa kanila na you think about how hard it is to win an all-Filipino,” Compton said. “You got to put it all out there.”
“It is not easy to win and these guys put their heart out on the floor,” the American mentor added.
Game Four is set on Wednesday.
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