MANILA, Philippines – Bolstering weak spots in their rosters, Alaska Milk and Barako Bull are now considered good dark horses in the 40th PBA season that unwraps Oct. 19 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Alaska filled voids in its lineup with its acquisition of veteran center Eric Menk and rookie backcourt players Chris Banchero and Rome dela Rosa while Barako Bull tweaked its team in enlisting RR Garcia, Jondan Salvador, Chico Lanete, Jake Pascual and Philip Paredes.
Coach Alex Compton kept the old Alaska nucleus, including Sonny Thoss, Cyrus Baguio, Jvee Casio, Calvin Abueva, Dondon Hontiveros, Vic Manuel, RJ Jazul and Tony dela Cruz. Other holdovers are Sam Eman, Chris Exciminiano and Paolo Bugia while Gabby Espinas is relegated to the reserve/injured list.
At Barako, core players retained are Dennis Miranda, Carlo Lastimosa, JC Intal, Jeric Fortuna, Dave Marcelo, Willie Wilson and Michael Pennisi.
Curiously left unsigned thus becoming an unrestricted free agent is two-time MVP awardee Willie Miller.
The Aces and the Energy, in their second season with coaches Compton and Siot Tanquingcen respectively, are expected to improve from their showing in Season 39.
With 22 wins and 22 losses, Alaska ended up sixth in the cumulative ranking last year behind Talk n Text (33-16), Rain or Shine (37-24), San Miguel Beer (25-17), San Mig Coffee (41-30) and Barangay Ginebra (23-20).
Barako Bull, meanwhile, nailed only 10 wins against 25 losses for ninth place, just ahead of Globalport.
Narrowly missing the Governors Cup finals, the Aces hope to sustain that strong finish in the coming Philippine Cup.
“The break helped us make the necessary adjustments in the new system put in place by Alex (Compton),” said team manager Dickie Bachmann, pointing out that they have abandoned the “triangle offense” of former coach Tim Cone.
In their new scheme, the Aces have gone 3-0 in the off-season.
They have played only three tune-up matches so far as they trained in seclusion, closing their doors in practice even to their diehard fanatics.
Bachmann said their new system is more of a run-and-gun game where guys like Baguio, Abueva and even rookie Dela Rosa are likely to thrive.
Bachmann is very much impressed with Dela Rosa, a second-generation PBA player being a son of former Shell and Sta. Lucia player Romeo.
The Alaska top official is also surprised by Menk. “At 40, he’s keeping up with the young guys. He can run up and down,” said Bachmann of Menk whom they signed up to fill in the spot vacated by the injury-hit Espinas.