Abueva on much-improved Aces: ‘We buried our losing streak in 2017’

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

ANTIPOLO — Turning over a new leaf in 2018, Calvin Abueva believes that Alaska’s disastrous run last year is already a thing of the past.

“We already buried our losing streak in 2017,” Abueva said in Filipino.

Regular fixtures in the playoffs, the Aces plummeted in the standings in the 2016-17 season.

Alaska suffered an early exit in the quarterfinals courtesy of eventual runner-up Ginebra in its bid for a third straight finals appearance in the Philippine Cup last year.

Things didn’t get better from there as the Aces figured in the bottom half of the standings in the import-laden conferences where they suffered a 13-game slide.

But that was then, and after two losses to start the new season, 2018 was nothing but great for Alaska.

“This 2018, it’s a new goal that we’re building this year,” said Abueva.

The Aces are currently on a three-game winning run after a 97-83 victory over Ginebra on Sunday in a game where they surged ahead in the second half after trailing by nine in the first two quarters.

“We lost our focus on our execution and on our defense in the first half. But in the second half, the coaches allowed us to settle down and think of the things we felt we needed to do with our defense and that’s how we got the victory,” said Abueva in Filipino.

Abueva finished with nine points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks to back up Vic Manuel, who had 18 points, five boards, and two assists.

“I’m just doing my role as a veteran of this team. I’m just trying to show what I can do and double my efforts,” he said.

Abueva, though, said that the Aces can’t get too ahead of themselves as they seek to keep their roll going.

“We’re just thinking of sustaining this and prepare for Blackwater. I hope we can continue this and extend our winning streak,” he said.