Cariaso believes struggling Aces can still make playoffs

Alaska Aces head coach Jeffrey Cariaso. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—It’s now or never for Alaska it opened the PBA Governors’ Cup with a disastrous four-game slide.

The Aces suffered their latest loss Saturday after a 101-75 beatdown at the hands of the Meralco Bolts.

Alaska is currently at the bottom of the 12-team standings and with only seven games left in the elimination round to turn things around, head coach Jeffrey Cariaso knows his team has little to no room for error if it is to make the playoffs.

“We have to understand that if we’re going to try and make a run this conference, we have to really step on the gas,” said Cariaso, who took over the coaching job before the start of the third conference.

“Now we have to get six games out, so it’s going to be six out of seven correct? I mean it’s still possible and I believe we can do it.”

Alaska, though, doesn’t have the luxury of a fully cohesive team yet with import Franko House only getting his first run with the Aces against Meralco.

House’s unfamiliarity with his teammates proved detrimental for him as he went 3-of-13 from the field for eight points but he did grab 11 rebounds and dished out six assists.

“It’s really just coming together a little bit more,” said Cariaso.