According to head coach Alex Compton during the media conference that occurred last Thursday, January 10, the Hotshots will only resume practice next Monday, January 14. “We haven’t started yet because we’re at a low point with injuries,” he explained, “We have to recover and we have to try to build our bodies right back again. What happened is that last month, we were playing for 14 months straight so the players got beaten up.” Coach Alex is referring to Simon Enciso, Vic Manuel, and Chris Banchero, all recovering from knee and ankle injuries and are out indefinitely. Sonny Thoss and Jayvee Casio are nursing their respective injuries as well.
Amidst the adjustments, Coach Alex is staying positive nonetheless. “We usually don’t focus on the results right away. For us, it’s going to be trying to play right, are we making the good decisions, are we playing hard, the Alaska way,” he continued, “We’re gonna be a little out of shape, and have key players that aren’t playing, we going to have other players excited for the opportunity and the responsibilities that they’ll have trying to set into those roles.”
Fortunately for the Aces, Negrenese center Siverino “Nonoy” Baclao recently signed a one-year contract extension to be part of his fourth year with the team. This past week, the team also signed 2018 PBA Rookie Draft selections Jesper Ayaay and Gideon Babilonia for two years, while letting go of veteran players Karl Dehasa, Ronald Pascual, and Marion Magat.
The Alex Compton-led squad will debut their new lineup on February 3 as they go head-to-head against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at Ynares Center in Antipolo.