Alaska honors 30 greatest all-time Aces

MANILA, Philippines – Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abarrientos and Bong Hawkins, the Big Three of Alaska Milk’s glorious era in the 90s, led the ball club’s 30 greatest players of all time during the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebration at the Endurun College at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig Thursday night.

Imports Sean Chambers, Devin Davis, Rosell Ellis, Diamon Simpson and Rob Dozier also made the list along with Yoyoy Villamin, Willie Pearson, Biboy Ravanes, Elmer Cabahug, Ricric Marata, Paul Alvarez, Eugene Quilban, Poch Juinio, Jeff Cariaso, Kenneth Duremdes, Rodney Santos, Ali Peek, Mike Cortez, Reynel Hugnatan, Sonny Thoss, Willie Miller, Tony dela Cruz, LA Tenorio, Cyrus Baguio, Calvin Abueva, Dondon Hontiveros and Jvee Casio.

These players, at one time or another, shone as lead forces of the ball club in its incredible journey in the league from 1986.

Now the third oldest franchise in the league next to San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra, Alaska, through three decades of participation in the country’s premier cage league, carved a great tale highlighted by 14 championships in 28 finals appearances.

Team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Alaska top executives, the current Alaska team and a number of past Alaska players joined together in celebration of the team’s new milestone.

“Over the past 30 years, Alaska has played 1,606 games. We have won 879 of those games for a 54.7-percent winning percentage. A total of 154 players have worn the Alaska jersey, plus 53 imports. We have 28 finals appearances and have won 14 championships. There have only been nine head coaches. We have retired six jerseys. And we have been one team committed to excellence,” said Uytengsu to encapsulate their run of achievements.

“Perhaps even more than our 14 PBA titles, I am proud of the fact that our success has been achieved with just a few players. When you consider that our franchise is 30 years old and only 153 players have ever worn an Alaska jersey, that means our players have stayed with us a long time,” Uytengsu pointed out.

“(These are) players that have lived up to our core values of teamwork, commitment, dedication and integrity. We believe in respecting the league and our opponents. We believe in respecting the game. And we try to do this each time we step on the court,” Uytengsu added.

The businessman/sportsman is proud of their former players who have become productive in their respective endeavors at the end of their playing careers.

“We are proud that many of our players have gone on to be successful coaches in the PBA, UAAP, NCAA and other leagues. Some have gone to other careers in business, politics, education while others have become entrepreneurs,” he said.

Chambers, for one, is now a middle school administrator in California while Alex Araneta, a former No. 1 pick of Alaska, is a top executive at Mastercard Loyalty Solutions in Sydney, Australia.

Chambers, the longest tenured PBA import seeing action for 13 long years with Alaska, flew in to join the celebration.

Other former Alaska players showing up included Lastimosa, Peek, Cortez, Santos, Hawkins, Juinio, Hugnatan, Nic Belasco, Peter Aguilar, Rhoel Gomez, John Ferriols and Paolo Bugia.

Conspicuously missing were coach Tim Cone, longtime team manager Joaqui Trillo, Abarrientos and Duremdes.