ALASKA coach Luigi Trillo came to his team’s defense, stressing the Aces are merely “protecting themselves” from the constant banging by Talk `N Text in the first three games of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series.
“We can't be like on the receiving end of the fouls. Sometimes, we also need to give some back,” Trillo told Spin.ph on the eve of Game 4.
Trillo pointed out his prized center Sonny Thoss and super rookie Calvin Abueva have both been hit, and at times roughed up by Talk 'N Text’s defense.
“We got a lot of that (banging) by Ryan Reyes, Aron Aban, and even Kelly Williams. But again, you don't win the championship by being a nice guy,” he added.
And though the series is fast shaping up into a physical match up, Trillo has one advice to his team: focus on the series, not on the calls or non-calls.
“Well, that’s (physical plays) just part of the game. It doesn’t get easier. This team is 14-3. They’ve won 14 games because they are good. But we need to focus playing basketball,” he added.
The Aces trail the Tropang Texers, 1-2 entering Game 4, but with ace gunner Cyrus Baguio escaping suspension, Trillo expects his team to go all-out and regain momentum in their semifinal match up.
Baguio, who hit Jayson Castro with a forearm in transition during in Game 3, was slapped a P30,000 fine for committing a flagrant foul penalty 2.
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