Final game beckons for Alaska’s stay in PBA

MANILA – Up until Saturday night, Alaska coach Jeffrey Cariaso didn’t want to think his team was about to play its final game in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

After all, the team got a chance to extend its season after beating NLEX, 93-79, on Wednesday that canceled the latter’s twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the Governors’ Cup.

With a chance to steal a semifinal spot away from the Road Warriors, it was understandable for Cariaso to think that way for his Aces.

But no thanks to a poor showing in the second quarter where the team only scored 11 points, Alaska was blown out by NLEX, 80-96, in the rubber match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, ultimately drawing the former’s 35-season stint in the PBA to a close.

“I honestly did not want to think that this was a possibility, but it is here. We all knew since Feb. 16 that this day will come eventually, and it’s here now,” Cariaso said in what would be his final interview with the sports media as the Aces’ head coach.

Although Alaska’s PBA story, highlighted by 14 championships including the season treble in 1996, also known as a “grand slam”, did not have a fairy tale ending, Cariaso, the hero of the team’s 1996 Philippine Cup title conquest that kicked off its grand slam bid, believes the team will bow out as victors.

“A lot of good people have come through this organization. It was stemming from the leadership of Boss Fred [Uytengsu] and the coaches that were here. They continued that culture from the management to Boss Dickie [Bachmann] and CK [Daniolco]… and just the organization and the company as a whole. Just the values that they carried themselves with. We tried to teach that and make sure that we live by those standards, and I’m proud to say that we did. That in itself, I think, we’re proud to say that we’re winners,” Cariaso further said. “That’s why Alaska is special and always gonna be a part of me.”

After the game, Commissioner Willie Marcial paid tribute to the Aces by holding a final buzzer ceremony, traditionally done to remember a PBA legend who passed away.

When Marcial pressed the ceremonial buzzer, confetti was all throughout the arena as if Alaska won a championship, a fitting tribute to the team’s legacy.

‘Deep talks’ ongoing with potential new owner

Regarding the future of the club, Cariaso revealed that Alaska is making progress in its PBA franchise sale.

“I know there are deep talks with a certain company,” Cariaso said.

He did not reveal the company Alaska is talking to, but the current frontrunners for the takeover are Universal Canning Corporation and Converge.

Universal Canning has a team playing in the PBA 3×3 as Master Sardines and has also bankrolled two franchises in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

Converge, on the other hand, was the primary sponsor of the Pampanga Delta during the 2020 National Basketball League season.

Cariaso hopes that the new team owner will keep at least the core of the Aces’ 2021 roster led by Jeron Teng, Abu Tratter, and rookie spark plug RK Ilagan.

“I hope they see the team that we’re starting here,” he further said.

Alaska has until next month to complete the sale in hopes of keeping the roster intact.

Otherwise, the PBA will step in and conduct its own negotiation at the risk of placing the players in a dispersal draft that could happen during the rookie draft proceedings on May 15.