Cone sees an Alaska rebirth, plays SMB today

After losing the Governors Cup title to Purefoods, coach Tim Cone said the defeat not only ended Alaska’s title aspiration but, more importantly, signalled a resurgence of the ballclub which was the biggest toast of the league in the 90s.

The Aces hope to sow the seed of this rebirth for the Uytengsu franchise beginning tonight as they open their campaign in the Samsung PBA Commissioner’s Cup against the San Miguel Beermen at the Cuneta Astrodome.

It’s an early rematch between two teams which figured in a fierce duel in the Governors Cup best-of-five semifinals. The Alaska-SMB playoff went the distance with the Aces pulling through as the Beermen limped out with injured import Lamont Strothers.

The rematch, however, is practically a new ballgame with both teams parading new imports. Curiously, the two teams figured in a trade deal during the break involving Rob Duat and Bryan Gahol. And Alaska got another new player in EJ Feihl following separate trade transaction with Barangay Ginebra.

Taking the place of James Head and Ron Riley are Ajani Williams and Chris Carawell while taking over Strothers and Mario Bennett are Damon Jay Flint and Jermaine Antoine Tate.