Thrill of a lifetime for Luigi
By Beth CelisJust before he made the all-important decision to coach the Alaska Aces, Luigi Trillo found himself at a vital crossroads in his basketball career.
Just before he made the all-important decision to coach the Alaska Aces, Luigi Trillo found himself at a vital crossroads in his basketball career.
Everyone thought Alaska owner Wilfred Uytengsu had gone nuts when he appointed Luigi Trillo—zero for 28 as a UAAP coach and winless in a short stint on the bench in the D-League—coach of the Aces in the PBA.
BARANGAY Ginebra has remained the pro league’s fabulous people’s team because its hordes of fanatics and devotees have always kept their faith until the end.
Alaska’s formidable frontcourt of Rob Dozier and Sonny Thoss played a big part in the Aces’ championship run.
After climbing from 0-4 and making a surprise trip in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals despite having a shorthanded lineup, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel just didn’t have enough left against Alaska.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel point guard LA Tenorio was one of the last players to come out of the losing dugout Sunday night.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s improbable run came to an end via three-game sweep at the hands of Alaska Sunday night.
There was a semblance of a game this time, and it only made Alaska’s return to PBA glory all the more sweet.
PEOPLE from all walks of life—security guards, taxi drivers, teachers at election precincts, tricycle drivers and men who seem to hang around all day in their basketball jerseys beside sari-sari stores—all want to know what’s wrong with Barangay Ginebra, their team that’s struggling in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.
Alaska leaned on a late surge to pull away from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 104-80, and seized its first championship in three years after pulling off a three-game sweep in their best-of-five PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship series before a record crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel point guard LA Tenorio was named Best Player of the Conference while Alaska import Rob Dozier bagged the Bobby Parks award Sunday before the opening tip of Game 3 of the Kings-Aces best-of-five title series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
ALL WEEK long following the May 13 polls, I spent my time gathering the names of athletes past and present and people connected to sports one way or the other who ran for a post in the just concluded elections.
Rookie Calvin Abueva of Alaska and veteran Barangay Ginebra playmaker LA Tenorio, the main cogs of the Aces and the Gin Kings battling for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title, will also be chasing personal glory as well.
