3rd win asam ng Aces: Tropang Texters babawi

Matapos kunin ang 2-0 kalamangan sa best-of-seven titular series ng KFC PBA Philippine Cup, may agam-agam si coach Tim Cone sa kanilang hangad na 3-0 bentahe sa serye.

Sa loob lamang ng limang araw, lalaro ang Alaska sa ikatlong sunod na pagkakataon sa isa na namang mahigpitang labanan kontra sa Talk N Text para sa Game-Three ng kanilang championship showdown sa Araneta Coliseum.

Sa pagkakataong ito, ayaw nilang mangyari sa kanila ang nangyari sa kanilang semifinal series kontra sa natanggalan ng koronang Sta. Lucia Realty.

“We wanted to win the first one and after that win the second game. That worked for us (in the semifinals series) against Sta. Lucia,” pahayag ni coach Tim Cone. “Now we see if we can change that a bit and win Game-3. We lost that one to Sta. Lucia but we have to find similar energy. That’s always hard since you’re playing three games in five days.”

Kahit na hawak na ng Aces ang 2-0 kalamangan sa serye, batid ni Cone na kailangan pa rin nilang pag-ibayuhin ang kanilang trabaho at natural lamang na gagawa ng paraang makabawi ang Tropang Texters.

“We’ve been lucky so far, they’re not hitting their open shots,” ani Cone. “We know we still have our work cut out for us. There will be a game or two where they will knock down their shots. It hasn’t happened yet, but still I expect that to happen.”

Umaasa naman si Cone na hindi sila maapektuhan ng nangyari kay Joachim Thoss sa kanilang nakaraang 100-91 pananalasa sa Talk N Text sa Game-2 upang masundan ang 102-95 panalo sa opening game ng serye.

Nagdugo ang ilong ni Thoss nang tamaan ito ng kamay ni Yancy De Ocampo, 6:25 ang oras sa third quarter at nahirapan siyang huminga habang naglalaro.

“He continued to bleed, couldn’t breathe. We’ve got to get him to the hospital for some X-rays,” ani Cone. “Usually, when it bleeds right away like that, it’s broken. I just don’t know if we can fit him with a mask in time for the game.” (Mae Balbuena)