Duels in Dubai: Aces gun for first of 2 wins

Alex Compton talked about his Alaska side’s inconsistent performances before departing for Dubai two days ago, and how he would like to see his Aces play solidly in a back-breaking PBA Philippine Cup grind in the oil-rich emirate.

“Yes, we are 2-0 and I am happy with that,” Compton told the Inquirer. “But we have been very inconsistent in those two games and the (Dubai) trip will surely toughen us.”

The Aces shoot for a temporary tie for the lead when they slug it out with the Mahindra Enforcers at 8 p.m. Friday (12 midnight in Manila), before returning 24 hours later to take on Barangay Ginebra, both at Al Wasl Sports Club.

Alaska dropped out of the lead after Rain or Shine clipped San Miguel Beer on Wednesday night, but the Aces can fly back to Manila on Sunday occupying the driver’s seat with a sweep of their United Arab Emirates games.

“Of course we want to win [those two games], but we need to take care of some inconsistencies in the team first,” Compton said.

Alaska blew hot in scuttling powerhouse Talk ‘N Text, 114-98, before scraping past lightly regarded Blackwater, 87-79.

The Aces’ core is intact with Cyrus Baguio and JV Casio living up to their roles as the squad’s prime scorers, Sonny Thoss its pillar in the middle, Dondon Hontiveros its main outside gun and Calvin Abueva its energy guy.

Mahindra, like Ginebra, is at 0-2, but that doesn’t mean the Enforcers will be easy pickings for the Aces.

Despite bowing to Talk ‘N Text, 97-101, the hard-fighting Enforcers managed to expose chinks on the Tropang Texters’ armor and lay bare the things they are good at.

Pint-sized point guard LA Revilla will be coming off a 23-point outing for the Enforcers, and will be clashing with an Alaska guard rotation that could make him busy on both ends.

Ping Exciminiano, a member of the PBA’s All-Defensive team last season, will most likely be tasked to put the cuffs on Revilla, the former La Salle ace in the UAAP who has sustained the gains of his breakout season.