New PBA season wide open—Cariaso

Alaska coach Jeff Cariaso feels that there’s an opening for the other teams in the PBA with the developments at reigning Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer and last season’s Governors’ Cup winner Barangay Ginebra. “It’s unfortunate what happened to June Mar (Fajardo) and with Greg Slaughter walking away,” he told a few reporters on Sunday after a friendly with Korea’s Dankook University at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.

“Without mentioning too much, I think a lot of the other teams are thinking that way—that even for a slightest bit, there’s a window,” he added.

But Cariaso stressed that such circumstance is still just that: “a window.”

“It will still depend on how you want to look at it. Right now, it should not change whether those guys are there or not,” he said.

For now, Cariaso said his focus is on working his charges’ familiarity with each other as they have “plenty of new faces.”

He got a glimpse of where the Aces are now in terms of cohesion after its 129-101 conquest of the visitors.

New faces Mike DiGregorio and Robbie Herndon led the charge with 24 and 23 points, respectively. Vic Manuel tossed in 17 while incoming rookie Jaycee Marcelino had 15.

Alaska barely made the playoff race twice last year. Its best finish was during the season-ending Governors’ Cup, where the Aces wound up No. 7.

The heights Alaska, the second most-decorated franchise of the PBA, could reach will largely depend on Jeron Teng, who the team announced on Sunday morning as its new spearhead.“The plan is to revolve the team around Jeron,” said team governor Dickie Bachmann. “We expect big things from him.”“He’s got a couple of years under his belt,” Cariaso said. “He’s no longer a kid. He has to understand that his role has to be a little higher.”

“How we do things here, we play together. We always have that one guy who’s able and can step up when needed. INQ