Alaska goes for semis, but FedEx has aces

The Alaska Aces face a job cut out for them today as the Uytengsu ballclub, the undisputed team of the 90s seeking to regain lost glory, collides with the Airfreight 2100-FedEx squad which is hoping to make a mark right in its initial campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Alaska suffered a 69-83 blowout to FedEx in their elimination-round confrontation but the Aces, nonetheless, set out the slight picks as they meet the Express in a bigger battle in their Governors Cup quarterfinals matchup.

The Aces, enjoying the twice-to-beat privilege in the duel, take their first crack at the semifinal round as they tackle the Express at 6 p.m. at the Philsports Arena.

"Of course, lamang sila (Alaska). Naghihingalo nga kami because they have the twice-to-beat advantage. But we’re not thinking of it because we’re looking to extend the playoff," said FedEx coach Derrick Pumaren.

"Experience-wise, lamang sila as a team dahil matagal na silang magkakasama. Pero medyo lamang kami sa imports and that makes us comfortable matching up with them," added Pumaren.

Jarmaine Walker and Tim Moore could well become the keys if the Express were to survive the Aces. It will be remembered that Walker and Moore terribly outplayed Ron Riley and Muntrell Dobbins as FedEx walloped Alaska in the elims last March 10.

Riley may now have a new partner in James Head but statistics still show Walker and Moore have the edge against their Alaska counterparts. The FedEx imports averaged a combined output of 50.9 points a game in the elims compared to the Alaska tandem’s 40.4 clip.

But Alaska coach Tim Cone is optimistic they can handle Walker and Moore, thinking they can sustain the efficient defensive games they had shown in the eliminations.

As much as the FedEx-Alaska duel can be called youth versus experience, it can well also be dubbed offense versus defense with the Aces currently the best defensive team and the Express among the top offensive squads.

Alaska has been limiting its opponents to an average of 68.4 points a game while FedEx is yielding 79 points a game but is averaging 80.2 of its own. The Express are tops in the league in fastbreak points with 14.2 a game.

"Although Alaska has the twice-to-beat advantage, it doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t overcome that. I love our chances. I think all we have to do is to make them work harder, and we’ll have our chance," said Pumaren.

Incidentally, Alaska is enjoying the twice-to-beat privilege for the seventh time in 10 stints in this kind of quarterfinals phase in the league. The team advanced to the semis on all occasions.

Pumaren is activating rookie Renren Ritualo to strengthen their lineup for the playoffs. Ritualo will be reliever to Bong Alvarez, the FedEx top local averaging 12.8 a game – fourth best among all locals in the league.

Both teams have a doubtful starter in David Friedhof for FedEx and John Arigo for Alaska.

The winner in this matchup faces the winner in the Talk N Text-San Miguel duel.