Stanley Pringle vs Alaska defense. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
GlobalPort’s first semifinals appearance may have come as a surprise to some, but not to Alaska coach Alex Compton.
“There wasn’t a huge gap that separated Ginebra and GlobalPort. They had identical records and the seeds were just decided by quotient,” he said. “It wasn’t an upset, GlobalPort was playing great. They are legit. I don’t look at it as an upset, it was two teams playing a one-point overtime game. It’s appropriate for where they’re at.”
As the focus shifts from the controversial quarterfinal duel to the semifinals series pitting the Aces and the Batang Pier, Compton now has to the confront the team he has always seen as a threat with a finals return on the line.
“The ability of Stanley (Pringle), Terrence (Romeo), and people forget about Joseph (Yeo) – those three to create and make tough shots even when the defense is solid, that is a tremendous concern. I’m actually concerned of their stepback jumpshots because what are you going to do when they fall in?” he said.
It’s no secret that GlobalPort will be heavily dependent on the Romeo-Pringle combo, while Alaska will bank on its inside threat in the hardworking duo of Calvin Abueva and Vic Manuel flanking Sonny Thoss and Eric Menk.
“Defending Stanley and Terrence one-on-one is a real issue for us. On the other side, we got guys who can score inside. I think they’re bigs are hardworking, but Sonny and Eric poses problem for them. It is two distinctly different teams and both teams pose separate problems for each other,” Compton said.
Opposites attract, as they say, and with the two team’s contrasting approach to the game, even Compton admits that it’s tough to acknowledge who has the edge in the tussle.
“It’s two different styles. They shoot a higher volume of threes and have the ball on their hands a longer time. We run a motion offense where guys move a lot and we throw the ball inside a lot. I think it’s oversimplifying it, but I know our defense will be incredibly challenged,” he said. “Ginebra was the best half-court defensive team in the league and they had a tough time against those guys in GlobalPort. It’s not going to be easy for us.”