PBA semis begin, Alaska Aces to go against Star Hotshots

Star Hotshots vs. Alaska Aces (Facebook photos)

MANILA – As the PBA Governors’ Cup begins, Tim Cone’s Star Hotshots team will be going against his former team Alaska Aces in Game 1 of the Final Four Series.

The Hotshots have won their title last season, while the Aces have come back to the spotlight with a new mentor.

It can be recalled that the Hotshots won their last three series against the Aces with Cone in their team. Now, the tables are turned with Cone playing for the other basketball team.

Despite being with the Aces for so long, Cone knows that the anticipated game won’t be easy.

“They are playing a really high level of basketball… They’re playing at a really high level of defense and we’re going to have to be at our best defensively to compete with them,” Cone said after his team’s match against Globalport on Sunday.

“For sure, we are going to have our hands full… Hopefully, we’re going to help them have their hands full, also,” Alaska Aces coach Alex Compton said.

The Aces have won their last title in 2013, defeating the Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra in the series. Should the Aces want to regainthe title this year, Romeo Travis would have to play better.

The Aces will have Travis, Calvin Abueva, Cyrus Baguio, JV Casio, Dondon Hontiveros and Sonny Thoss in their team, while the hotshots will have Marqus Blakely, Mark Barroca, Joe Devance, Marc Pingris, Peter June Simon and James Yap in theirs.