Aces surging but coach Trillo still unimpressed

JV Casio vs Harvey Carey. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Alaska picked up its fifth straight win and sure enough, after dealing defending champion Talk ‘N Text its first loss Friday night, the Aces have gotten everyone’s attention.

But head coach Luigi Trillo doesn’t want to get too excited just yet.

“It’s just one game,” said Trillo on snapping the Tropang Texters six-game streak. “In the PBA you can’t get too excited about certain things.”

“Who wouldn’t wanna be the Talk ‘N Text team? They’re well coached. Talk ‘N Text in the past three years have really won championships. If there’s one team to look up to its Talk ‘N text,” he said. And for us to do this, it’s just basketball.”

Alaska, which turned things around after a 0-2 start, overcame an 11-point fourth quarter deficit, 72-83, thanks to the late-game heroics of sophomore guard JVee Casio, who has picked off where erstwhile Aces playmaker LA Tenorio left off.

“He (Casio) just took over,” marveled Trillo, whose starting point guard nailed the game-winning basket in a 94-92 thriller over defending champion Talk ‘N Text.

Also making an immediate impact is rookie Calvin Abueva, the second overall pick.

Abueva collected 14 points, including a clutch triple that tied the game at 90, five rebounds, four assists, five steals and two blocks.

But what stood out the most for Trillo was the former San Sebastian standout able to play his usual dynamic ways without committing a single turnover.

“Sure Calvin had only five rebounds but had 14 points, 4 (assists), 5 (steals) and 2 (blocks). And more importantly back to back games with ZERO turnovers,” Trillo posted on his Twitter account.

At 5-2, the Aces moved in solo second place behind the Texters and will again be tested on their next game versus Rain or Shine on Wednesday.