Black is beautiful
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 14 Nov 2018
Expect the Alaska Aces to show up in their rarely used black uniforms when they battle anew the Meralco Bolts in the crucial Game 3 of their PBA Governors? Cup best-of-five semifinal round series on Thursday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The Aces of coach Alex Compton turned fashionable and deviated from their traditional red and white playing outfit on Tuesday?s Game 2 and exacted a close 100-95 victory to tie the series at one win apiece besides cutting short the Bolts? franchise record seven straight triumphant run that started from the elimination round.
Nobody could say whether it was the dark outfit that brought luck to the Aces in coming back from a 0-1 series deficit and even up matters, but if the Alaska board member Dickie Bachmann is to be believed, the team, indeed wears it on special occasions.
?It wasn't the first time the team wore black,? Bachmann swore. ?We?ve using it on special situations to create excitement for the players, especially during playoffs.?
?And more often than not, it worked like this time. The players liked it. On this rare night black, indeed, brought luck to us,? he said chuckling.
Compton, for his part, admitted he hadn?t no inkling about his team?s black uniform kiddingly saying, ?hindi ako fashionista.?
?You can tell naman the way I dressed that I am not a fashionable guy,? the Alaska mentor uttered, adding, it was team owner Fred Uytengsu having something do in the Aces switching to black uniform.
?Black jerseys are great,? Compton said. ?Guys are cool about it that we won and so we?ll see if we can wear black every time.?
Sharp from the field and consistent from the line, the Aces led by as much as 20 points in the third period Simon Enciso?s brilliance from beyond the arc and import Mike Harris? inside incursions then made all six free throws in crunch time against the Bolts spirited rally.
Jayvee Casio sank all of his the free throws awarded him in that instance, Enciso hauled down Baser Amer?s mis from three and went on to seal the match with two more foul shots.
Harris had another monster effort with 37 points and 19 boards, while Enciso chipped in 23, lacing his excellent shooting night with five triples.
Chris Banchero played through a sprained ankle, finishing with a near triple-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for Alaska.
Alaska showed its aggressiveness in Game 2 after dominating the rebounding department, 48-35, along with a 16-8 advantage in second-chance points.
The Aces, likewise, were also quick to pounce on the Bolts' 15 turnovers, turning them into 22 points.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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