The Alaska Aces receive their runner-up trophy after the PBA Philippine Cup Finals held earlier this month. The Aces see action for the first time this conference.
Alaska Aces plunge back to action after humiliating loss in PBA Philippine Cup Finals
Games today
Araneta Coliseum
4:15 p.m.- Alaska vs. Blackwater
7:00 p.m.- Talk ‘N Text vs. GlobalPort
Following a nightmarish campaign in the Philippine Cup, the Alaska Aces return to action today when they battle the Blackwater Elite in the 41st PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
It will be interesting to see how the Aces will perform in their first outing after suffering the ignominy of being the first team in the league to blow a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series.
Alaska looked headed to winning the Philippine Cup crown when it erected a 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven championship series against the San Miguel Beermen.
Disaster struck when the Aces suddenly struggled, losing the next four games to yield the crown to the Beermen.
Back in Alaska’s fold in its bid for redemption is the six-foot-eight Rob Dozier, who powered the Aces to the championship in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup, where he was also named Best Import.
Standing is Alaska’s way is Blackwater, which is looking for a second straight win.
The Elite dropped their opening assignment against an import-less Talk ‘N Text squad, 102-108, but bounced back with a 110-102 victory over the Mahindra Enfocers.
Import MJ Rhett finished with 19 points and 18 rebounds in that win, recovering from sub-par game against Talk ‘N Text, where he settled for just 16 markers and seven boards.
Talk ‘N Text, on other hand, will be playing without an import for the second time in three games as they face off with the GlobalPort Batang Pier.
Talk ‘N Text are targeting either Alan ‘Big Al’ Williams and Vince Hunter to replace Ivan Johnson, who was banned for one season by league commissioner Chito Narvasa.
Johnson was initially slapped with a lifetime ban and a P250,000 fine after the temperamental import confronted Narvasa following his ejection in Talk ‘N Text’s 84-88 loss to the Meralco Bolts last Saturday.
Johnson had then apologized to Narvasa, who downgraded the penalty a one-season ban. The fine was also reduced to P150,000.