The Alaska Aces: Another Team Rising Inside the Bubble

For a team that started the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) bubble in Clark with a two-game losing streak, it has been a big turnaround for the Alaska Aces. They have won four of their last five games including a 99-96 win against the TerraFirma Dyip last Tuesday. Even in their game against the San Miguel Beermen, Alaska managed to come back from a 14-point deficit and only lost by four points.   

One of the reasons why the Aces are able to rise up to fifth place in the team standings is that the team is getting contributions from every player Coach Jeffrey Cariaso has fielded thus far. Against the Dyip, fives Aces 10 points or more with four others scoring at least eight points. Their leading scorer for that game was Vic Manuel with 18 points and he came off the bench. Robert Herndon was another bright spot for the Aces in that game where he scored 12 points off the bench too. In eight games thus far, Herdon is averaging 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal while shooting 70% from the free-throw line. Mike DiGregorio is another Alaska player who has stepped on the gas pedal as he's averaging 12 points in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup while shooting a team-leading 41% from the three-point line. Even Barkley Ebona is already making a name for himself as he currently ranks second among league players in field goal shooting percentage. Ebona is making 63% of his attempts. His best scoring output came against the Blackwater Elite where he poured in 24 points on 10 for 11 field goal shooting.

Speaking of Vic Manuel, he is the leading scorer of Alaska this all-Filipino conference as the veteran we know as THe Muscle Man is averaging 17 points and six rebounds per game. Against his old pal, Calvin Abueva, and the rest of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, Vic Manuel outmuscled everyone else with 24 points and seven rebounds.

Don't forget about the La Salle trio of JVee Casio, Abu Tratter, and Jeron Teng.  Tratter and Teng are averaging 10 points each while Casio is shooting 36% from the three-point line.

What makes Alaska a dangerous team is that they are loaded with veterans who have played long enough in the PBA to understand what it takes to go the distance. If the Aces can stay away from injuries and sustain this run once the PBA is allowed to hold games, they might have a shot at finishing at the top four that comes with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. 

Photo is from ESPN