Alaska is starting to look good posting ugly wins.
And coach Tim Cone said he doesn’t really mind as long as his Aces continue with their steady climb in the PBA Smart Philippine Cup where they’ve posted three consecutive victories.
“At this point Alaska is winning the battle of pulling off the most number of ugly wins. But I’ll take ugly wins,” said Cone, who was under the weather as his team beat Welcoat, 73-60, at the packed Astrodome.
The American mentor said the PBA shifting to and implementing FIBA rules, where players are given all the freedom to defend, has led to a lot of pushing and shoving inside the court.
“The way calls have been going, we just can’t do anything. It’s really hard to run your offense with all the pushing and shoving. But I’m not saying whether the league is right or wrong,” said Cone.
Only 36 fouls were called during the game – 18 from both sides. But it’s nothing compared to last Saturday’s game where Coca-Cola was slapped only six fouls, but still lost to Air21, 102-91.
In that game, held in Muntinlupa City, Air21 was awarded only five free throws, making four, in 48 minutes of action.
In the other game, Purefoods enjoyed its best start (5-0) in franchise history after beating defending champion Ginebra, 103-76, in a game that almost got out of hand in the fourth quarter.
Brandon Cablay of Purefoods and Ronald Tubid of Ginebra almost came to blows after a hard collision in the 8:28 mark of the final quarter and the Giants way ahead, 84-57.