Compton says games vs Phoenix like ‘family reunion’

It’s hard not to get caught up in the hype that surrounded Calvin Abueva’s first game against his former team Alaska after the trade with Phoenix transpired in early August.

Abueva was undoubtedly the club’s faces throughout his nearly six-year tenure from 2012 until 2018 but things turned sour between the two parties that merited a trade.

For coach Alex Compton, though, the game against the Fuel Masters wasn’t just about Abueva alone but a match against former members of a family.

“I don’t like hyping up, it’s not a thing against one guy,” said Compton after his Aces handled Abueva’s Fuel Masters 108-97 in the PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

And Compton has good reason on focusing not just on Abueva since Phoenix’ top coaches Louie Alas and Topex Robinson were once his assistants in Alaska,

Phoenix team manager Paolo Bugia was also Compton’s player in Alaska with RJ Jazul and Jaypee Mendoza.

“I love RJ Jazul, I love Jaypee Mendoza, I love Calvin, I love Bugs, I love coach Louie, I love coach Topex,” said Compton. “Those are six guys we have a good relationship with, so I don’t go into a game and make the game about one guy because last time I checked basketball’s a team sport.”

“What it feels like to me every time we play Phoenix is like a family reunion. We’re going to go at it, play a game in the backyard that’s going to be intense but these are people we have longstanding relationships with that you really care about.”