Alaska Aces: We're going to Disneyland

The PBA Fiesta Conference champion Alaska Aces are going to Disneyland. The whirlwind trip, a reward for the grueling conference title, is set for the end of next week, although some of the players have already left the country. Coach Tim Cone departed Thursday, with a plan to visit ailing former Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls assistant coach Tex Winter, the author of the triangle offense which Alaska has been using for two decades. Winter, who played basketball during the Depression era, has been ill for some time.

The Alaska contingent will be a big one, since players are bringing their spouses and girlfriends, and springing for their children and other family members. Team manager Joaqui Trillo is keeping an eye on the passport and visa applications, which are all being processed in a mad rush before they leave on the 9th.

“There’s so much we still have to finish,” a tired Trillo smiles good-naturedly. “We’re finishing the contracts for next season, helping with the papers of the two batches who will travel, and even our own travel plans. There’ll be about 60 of us total.”

The Aces will have a full schedule when they meet up in Sta. Monica.

The day after a team meeting, they will be given a day of shopping, which is, apparently, a necessity.

“I didn’t know that shopping was important,” laughs team owner Fred Uytengsu, who organized the highly successful Ironman triathlon in Camarines Sur two weeks ago. “The players always ask if they can go to an outlet store. So we put that into the schedule.”

The Aces will be whipping through California, taking in Universal Studios one day, watching a college football game at Uytengsu’s alma mater USC, and catching the LA Angels in a home game. Hopefully, the Angels will also formally welcome the Aces.

“We’ll also go to the restaurant where Lamar Odom had his celebration with Khloe Kardashian,” Uytengsu continues. “Then we’ll go to the beach, play football, frisbee, bike around. The whole California scene.”

Sports is never far away from any Alaska gathering. Uytengsu even recalls that a running joke that the team should actually go to Alaska the state for once. And in keeping with the spirit of the team, the sports-minded owner even discovered that there is actually a semi-professional hockey league there called - you’ll never believe it – the Alaska Aces.

The trip will be short, because Alaska is in the late stages of preparations for the celebration of its 25th anniversary in the PBA.

A total of 117 local players and 35 imports have donned the Alaska, Alaska Milk or Hills Bros jersey. Of course, some have passed away, such as Teddy Alfarero, Arnie Tuadles. The team’s initial draft pick was Rey Cuenco, who later became popular playing for Ginebra.

“Let’s make it happen. I love Alaska!” said former “resident import” Sean Chambers to this writer in an online chat. Chambers played for Alaska for a record 11 years. Chambers, who gained prominence after beating Billy Ray Bates in a slam-dunk contest as a member of a visiting IBAF team here, is now a vice-principal at a middle school in Sacramento. “I can’t wait. I’m super excited.”

A few other former Aces, such as Stevenson “Bong” Solomon and Alejo “Ponky” Alolor, also live in Sacramento, where former Toyota point guard and Bobby Jaworski’s backcourt teammate Francis Arnaiz worked at the state capital. Alolor has confirmed his attendance for the anniversary celebration.

The celebration will also have known Alaska supporter Gary Valenciano performing, and will have the formal presentation of the team’s championship rings to the players and coaches, as well as the retirement ceremony of the jersey numbers of Bong Hawkins and Johnny Abarrientos, two prominent members of Alaska’s Grand Slam teams of the 1990’s. Alaska was the first PBA team to retire player jerseys and hand out championships rings. Other players who have had their jerseys retired are Bogs Adornado, Chambers, assistant coach Jojo Lastimosa and most recently, team captain Jeff Cariaso.