Aces out to make it 6-0 vs Elite

Alaska seeks to pull off its finest start in the post-Tim Cone era when the Aces battle winless expansion squad Blackwater today in the PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

With a league-leading 5-0 card, the Aces are heavily favored to make it six straight when they clash with the Elite in the 4:15 p.m. game, with a win giving them their best start since Cone left the squad after 23 years in 2011.

The last time Alaska started with a 5-0 record was in the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup, which the Aces, under Luigi Trillo, ultimately won by dropping just a total of four games. Alaska swept Barangay Ginebra in the best-of-five Finals to highlight the title romp.

But it was the last time the Aces played in a title series and a lot of things have happened to the squad since then, including the relief of Trillo by Alex Compton.

Meanwhile, Purefoods and NLEX try to get back on track in the 7 p.m. contest.

Purefoods, which won this conference as San Mig Coffee last year, has a 1-3 card and sits in 10th spot, just ahead of the Elite and another winless side, Barako Bull.

Compton has instilled a high-octane game on both ends for the Aces, who have thumped some of the tournament’s title favorites.

Former Rookie of the Year Calvin Abueva has been the focal point of the Alaska game, his hustle rubbing off on his teammates.

At just under 6 feet 2 and the smallest power forward in the league, Abueva has two “20-20” games in scoring and rebounding thus far.  Not since the 6-10 man-mountain Asi Taulava in 2007 has there been a local player to carve out two such games in one conference.

Abueva leads the league in rebounding with an average of 13 a game. Against KIA Motors on Tuesday, Abueva plucked down 20 boards.

Blackwater is also not a big team, and it could help the Aces, who sat down 6-7 Sonny Thoss against the Sorento because of a foot injury.

James Yap will be playing a second straight game for Purefoods since sitting out two because of a hamstring pull. He is expected to be in much better rhythm against the Road Warriors. The former two-time MVP scored just seven points against Ginebra last Sunday.

Taulava will again banner the NLEX game with Mac Cardona one of the main offensive options. Cardona leads the league in scoring with just over 18 points a game.