Up close and personal

MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu rushing home from overseas trip to watch his team’s first game against former coach Tim Cone gives tonight’s Alaska-B-Meg duel an emotional, personal perspective.

From Kona, Hawaii competing in an iron man event, Uytengsu promised to be back in Manila in time for the keenly awaited confrontation between the Aces and the Llamados at 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“He (Cone) made his decision to throw away 22 years of partnership and we’ve moved on. We are focused on continuing our winning tradition,” Uytengsu said in a text message to The STAR.

“It will obviously be an emotional game for all. We want to beat him and he will want to beat us,” said Alaska skipper Tony dela Cruz of their first meeting with their former coach after their parting in the off-season.

Meralco and Shopinas clash in the day’s other game marking Week Two of the elimination round of the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup.

Cone said there would surely be butterflies in his stomach but that won’t be the case for his players and that’s important because they are the ones that count.

“I know this is a big game in many people’s minds, but as a team we want to take the approach that this is just another game,” said Cone.

“We need to advance in the standings. If it is a big game, it’s only because both teams are coming off a loss and want to get the first win under their belts,” Cone added.

Understandably, the Aces would wage a side battle with their former coach.

“I think the team that can stay focused and calm the best will come out on top,” said Dela Cruz.

Technically, new Alaska coach Joel Banal believes it’s going to be a good match-up between two teams that play almost the same.

“They can play big, we can play big; they can play small, we can play small. Both teams play man-to-man defense and both teams run the triangle offense,” Banal noted.

Both are off to a losing start in the season with the Llamados bowing to the Petron Blaze Boosters, 69-73, and the Aces beaten by the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 72-83.

“We came off a loss so we have to improve our game offensively and defensively,” said Alaska chief playmaker LA Tenorio.

Meralco and Shopinas likewise dropped their opening games in the season.

The Bolts were clobbered by the Talk n Text Tropang Texters, 80-98, while the Clickers didn’t click versus the Powerade Tigers, 87-98.