SCORING a career-high 30 points didn’t matter for Alaska slotman Sonny Thoss as the Aces opened the New Year with a disappointing 117-121 overtime loss to Talk ‘N Text in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The 6-foot-7 Thoss was an overpowering presence for the team, particularly in the fourth period when he scored 13 points, including the unmolested layup with only 1.3 seconds left that sent the game into an extra five minutes.
“The stats didn’t really matter because we have a thing where it doesn’t matter who scores as long as Alaska wins,” Thoss told Spin.ph after the game.
Thoss said the Aces were able to hold their own against the reigning three-time All-Filipino champion, but rued that Alaska’s defense, particularly in the final seconds of the extra period, failed to stop Jason Castro from doing the damage.
Castro, who finished the game with 16 points, dished off 10 assists, the last of which he gave to a waiting Ranidel de Ocampo, who gamely sank the game-clinching three-point shot.
“We just didn’t do a good job on defense,” rued the 32-year-old Thoss.
“Jason Castro was able to find the open man. They (Tropang Texters) were the better team while we had some glitches here and there on defense especially. Hopefully, we can bounce back,” he added.
Despite Alaska’s seventh loss in 11 matches, Thoss remains confident the Aces can recover in time with three games left in their schedule.
“I still see a bright future for our team, if we just stay on the right track. So we’ll take it one game a time. Then, let’s see how it goes,” said Thoss.
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