Cariaso focused on keeping Aces sharp

CLARK FREEPORT—There is no doubt in Jeff Cariaso’s mind that Alaska is facing a mammoth task early on into the PBA’s bubble games here.

The Aces, after all, are taking on a retooled TNT, who now flaunts a starting unit of past and present national team players.

“Do we have our work cut out for us? Of course,” he told the Inquirer on Friday, just a two days before the team’s clash with the Tropang Giga at Angeles University Foundation—which also marks the beginning of the Philippine Cup’s reboot.

“TNT has always been a good team. They have always been a team that’s going to challenge you. It’s obvious they had a facelift. They worked overtime to acquire a guy like Poy [Erram], re-signed Bobby Ray [Parks Jr.], and then there are the staples like Jayson [Castro],” he said.

However, Cariaso said worrying too much about the other team would only be counterproductive.

“Again, right now the focus is really just how to play, do what we do best, and then sharpening our tools,” he said.

First games are always tough, according to Cariaso, who took over Alaska’s coaching reins in August last year.

And that was before a global health crisis disrupted everyone’s calendar.

“Going into this war is one of those situations where it’s hard to plan too much,” he said, adding several teams have undergone big changes. “[T]here’s not too much to plan from.”