ALASKA tries to put Rain or Shine away today and enter the Finals of the PBA Philippine Cup when the Aces and the Elasto Painters slug it out in Game 6 of their semifinal series that started and will end on different years at Mall of Asia Arena.
Game time is 5 p.m. with the Aces also trying to become the first team in the series to win consecutive games and make it to another best-of-seven title showdown opposite tournament No. 1 San Miguel Beer.
The defense that Alaska has used to qualify as the third seed and take a 3-2 lead over the Elasto Painters will again be there to help the Aces shoot for a first title since winning the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup with Robert Dozier as their import.
The burden of adjustment is again on the side of Rain or Shine, which, despite trailing by a game, has had control of the series.
Of its three losses, Rain or Shine blew commanding first half leads, including a 19-point bubble in the second quarter of Game 5 before going down, 88-93.
It is because of this that Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao believes that they can take the series to its deciding seventh game, especially after having faced the Alaska pressure defense a total of six times this conference.
But coach Alex Compton, who is calling the shots for the Aces for just the second conference and has taken them at least to the Final Four, said that they have done some adjustments on their press just to be able to give Rain or Shine a different look.
“Without baring the details of our game plan, yes, we made some minor adjustments,” Compton told the Inquirer.
Alaska has taken just three days off during the Christmas break and has worked so hard preparing for this game.
“I am just one happy man seeing how these guys are dedicating themselves,” Compton said. “You can see the willingness in them, the desire to win.”
Calvin Abueva will anchor the Alaska game on both ends, especially its defense that has seen the Aces shut down prolific teams.
The Alaska offense has also been holding its own against the hard-nosed defense that Rain or Shine plays, with JV Casio, Dondon Hontiveros and Cyrus Baguio stepping up on different games.
Sonny Thoss could also prove to be the key for the Aces. If the 6-foot-7 former National can dominate the middle, then Rain or Shine would be in trouble in its quest to make a return trip to the finals.