STA. ROSA, Laguna – Alaska tumbled to its third straight loss in the PBA Governors Cup Sunday night, which new coach Jeff Cariaso sad is part of the Aces’ growing pains.
Cariaso believes the victories will eventually come.
“We’re frustrated that we’re 0-3, but I think the one thing that we need to make sure to get out of this is we understand our identity dito sa Alaska. We understand how I’d want them to play,” Cariaso explained following the Aces’ 109-83 loss at the hands of San Miguel at the Sta. Rosa Multipurpose Center.
“So during that process, may mga growing pains and we’re going through the growing pains right now,” added the Alaska great. “But to me, I think what’s more important is to make sure that you’re playing the right way, you’re playing the way we want you to play.”
That was the case for Alaska, at least in the first half against San Miguel where it managed to keep in step with the grand slam-seeking franchise, even leading 29-25 to end the first quarter.
But the Aces, who played minus injured import Justin Watts along with three other key players in Jeron Teng, Kevin Racal, and Maverick Ahanmisi, failed to sustain their form and found themselves buried by an avalanche of baskets in the third quarter when the Beermen stepped on the gas.
“First half, A plus. The discipline medyo bumaba nung second half,” noted Cariaso. “The first half was decent, we were up to par. But for you to be able to have a chance, it has to be better the second half.
“So what happened, they (Beermen) got better. Kami (Aces) bumaba.”
But Cariaso remains patient that sooner or later, things will get better for this once proud franchise. It’s just a matter of the Aces understanding how their new coach want them to play.
“I think once the guys fully understand, you know good things will happen,” said Cariaso.
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