Alaska sacks Luigi Trillo, promotes Alex Compton

Coach Luigi Trillo. PBA IMAGES / Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Compton, the American who was born, raised and played professional ball in the Philippines, will be the new Alaska coach starting with the Aces’ next game in the PBA Governors’ Cup after Luigi Trillo was given his walking papers by management Sunday.

No less than the Alaska management came up with a statement saying that Trillo had “stepped down” as head coach of the Aces and that Compton will call the shots immediately.

After steering the Aces to last year’s Commissioner’s Cup title —the franchise’s 14th overall— Trillo failed to take the Aces to the Final Four of each of the next three conferences.

He had been part of the team for 16 years. “We are appreciative of Luigi’s efforts during his tenure as head coach and piloting the Aces to our 14th PBA title,” team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu said in the official statement.

Alaska has a 1-1 record in the ongoing Governors’ Cup, beating San Miguel Beer in the inaugurals before falling to Globalport just last Friday.

“I would like to thank the Alaska organization for the last 16 years of employment,” Trillo was quoted in the statement.

“I am leaving the team in a good place.” Compton, who had been Trillo’s chief assistant since Joel Banal also got his walking papers two years ago, will be up for a test immediately with the Aces battling Talk ‘N Text in the only game slated today at Smart Araneta Coliseum.