Alaska not taking Air21 lightly as it shoots for an all-important win

Alaska coach Luigi Trillo can't afford to lose his cool in the Aces' game against Air21, with no less than a playoff for the no. 4 quarterfinal seed at stake for them.

ALASKA shoots for an all-important win against Air21 Sunday when the curtains fall on the eliminations of the PBA Governors Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Aces (4-4) are well aware that a victory over the Express (2-6) would give them a shot at Rain or Shine in a playoff for the fourth seed of the quarterfinal phase on Monday at the Astrodome.

Game time is at 4:15 p.m.
Alaska coach Luigi Trillo said the Aces are now peaking at the tail end of the elims, which is a good since they are now preparing for the tough battle ahead.

“We feel good that we will play Air21 because it sets us up for fourth and fifth place,” said Trillo. “The guys are healthy and it’s the third conference, I think we’re starting to peak.”

Air21 will simply be playing for pride after its quarterfinal hopes were dashed following Globalport’s 113-106 overtime win against Barangay Ginebra on Friday.

Even if the Express manage to pull an upset by beating the Aces, coupled by  a Kings’ loss to the Talk `N Text Tropang Texters in the main game of Sunday’s doubleheader to create a triple-way tie for the last quarterfinals berth, Air21 will still finish last due to an inferior quotient.

Air21 has gone through personnel changes during the tail-end of its campaign this conference after relinquishing veteran guard Mike Cortez to Meralco to get the rights for 40-year-old center Asi Taulava.

The Express also added a two-guard gunner in Joseph Yeo by shipping out forward Mark Isip to Petron.

Air21 coach Franz Pumaren said despite bombing out of the quarterfinal race, the Express will have an opportunity to prepare early for next season since they can work on their chemistry with their two new
acquisitions.

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