Alaska Aces celebrate. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Everybody expected Alaska to get a lot tougher, and meaner, when the franchise drafted Calvin Abueva in 2012.
Since then, Abueva has been one of the most polarizing figures in the PBA and in the Governors’ Cup Playoffs of the 2015, the Beast has been in the middle of the Aces’ scintillating rallies.
READ: Alaska sweeps Star, returns to PBA Finals
Alaska has made, according to PBA’s chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, 13 come-from-behind victories after trailing by double-digits in the 2014-2015 PBA Season.
Its last one was the 82-77 series clincher against Star Hotshots Sunday.
Abueva said their relentless drive in the second halves of their games, where they push teams to the limit, is a result of acclimating themselves first in the first half.
“It’s like a diesel engine, once you start it you have to heat it up first before revving,” Abueva said. “It’s like when we start to get it going in the second half.”
READ: Alaska embarrasses Star, takes 2-0 series lead
Star led Alaska, 46-37, at the end of the first half but the Aces soon revealed the tricks up their sleeves in the second half as they limited the Hotshots to 31 points while scoring 45 of their own.
Abueva said beating the Hotshots in a sweep and manhandling them in the first two games, gives their confidence level a major boost.
“We’ve eliminated them, swept them in fact, that’s why our confidence right now is really high,” Abueva said. CFC