MANILA, Philippines - Hindi inaasahan ni coach Luigi Trillo na mawawalis ng kanyang Alaska ang Barangay Ginebra ni mentor Alfrancis Chua sa kanilang best-of-five championship series para sa 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“If anybody had asked me kung tatalunin namin ang Ginebra in just three games, I would have said no. If we are better than Ginebra by 30 points coming into the series, I would have said no,†sabi ng 36-anyos na si Trillo, may 0-33 win-loss record sa kanyang paggiya sa Adamson Falcons sa UAAP sa loob ng tatlong taon, sa 3-0 pagdomina ng Aces sa Gin Kings sa serye.
Tinalo ng Alaska ang Ginebra sa Game One, 87-70, Game Two, 104-80 at sa Game Three, 104-90, para angkinin ang kanilang pang-14 PBA championship matapos ang kanilang ika-26th finals appearance.
Ayon kay Trillo, nasa kanyang pangatlong komperensya matapos palitan si Joel Banal noong Abril 16, 2012, pinayagan siya ni team owner Wildfred Steven Uytengzu na magplantsa ng ilang trades para mapalakas ang Alaska.
“When we came in I knew we have a good foundation. I have a lot of thanking to sir Fred (Uytengsu). He allowed me to get some trades in. We got (RJ) Jazul, we got (Gabby) Espinas and then there’s an understanding from me and LA (Tenorio) that he want to move forward. It was an amicable decision with his permission,†ani Trillo. “We’re lucky to get Don (Hontiveros) and JVee and then Calvin (Abueva came into play at suwerte din kami kay Robert (Do- ``zier).