Trillo stays as Alaska coach

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the team’s poor showing in the soon-to-end PBA Governors Cup, the Alaska Milk management decided to stick with coach Luigi Trillo, signing up the young bench tactician to a two-year contract.

“Mr. (Fred) Uytengsu shared some ideas and insights on our team that I intend to take to heart,” said Trillo on the Alaska Ace website.

“You see how hard he works. He never does anything half-hearted. He is very demanding because he also gives his 100 percent support. He expects the same type of passion and commitment from every team member,” Trillo also said.

Trillo is now a full-pledged bench tactician after serving as head coach of the Alaska Aces in the Governors Cup on an interim basis in lieu of Joel Banal.

The former La Salle player has been given the free hand to form his coaching staff, and he’s apparently looking to tap in Louie Alas, Leo Austria and Alex Compton, among others, as deputies.

“Our short-term goal is to be the hardest working staff and team out there and the long-term goal is to win a championship with a sense of sustainable success,” Trillo said.

With Junmar Fajardo likely to be chosen by Petron Blaze as the top pick, Trillo is looking to exercise their rights for the No. 2 pick either on Fil-Am player Cliff Hodge or San Sebastian star Calvin Abueva.

“We only have our first and third round picks as of the moment. We have to consider if we will draft the best available talent or do we draft what we need right now,” Trillo said.

Trillo said it’s a tough decision to make.

“(Hodge) reminds me of Harvey Carey but stronger and bigger. He would have the same impact that Jeff Cariaso had as a rookie with Alaska only in a different position,” said Trillo.

Of Abueva, Trillo said: “He does the same things as Hodge. He is a bit smaller but seems to have a bit more versatility in his game. He could definitely guard twos, threes and fours in the league (PBA). He also seems to have better ball handling skills. Think of a combination of Rudy Hatfield’s hustle and Jason Castro’s ability to penetrate and dominate games.”