CONFIDENT, but cautious.
That’s the mentality of Alaska coach Alex Compton and his wards as they try to finish off GlobalPort in the resumption of their Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals series.
The Aces, who hold a commanding 3-1 series lead, can wrap it all up and go back to the finals with yet another win against the ailing Batang Pier today in their 7 p.m. Game 5 encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Following three straight wins in the series after dropping the opener, Alaska certainly has momentum and confidence on its side and Compton is hoping that the Aces can finish the job the soonest.
“I hope we can finish it in Game 5,’’ said Compton.
Despite a tight grip on the series and being already at the cusp of making it back to the finals, Compton is still cautious of the Batang Pier’s capabilities of mounting a possible last-ditch push to save its campaign.
“We don’t underestimate them (Globalport). They are always a dangerous team to face,’’ said Compton.
Should Alaska win, it will be the third time in the last four conferences that the Aces will enter the finals.
In Game 4 last Sunday, Alaska continued its mastery of GlobalPort as it dominated from start to finish, en route to an easy 109-84 drubbing of the Batang Pier.
While the likes Calvin Abueva and Dondon Hontiveros are consistently getting support from their Alaska teammates, the same could not be said of GlobalPort as stars Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle have been lacking support the last three games.
Batang Pier’s Joseph Yeo, Keith Jenses, Jay Washington and Doug Kramer have been playing inconsistently and performing subpar in the last three games.
GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio certainly needs production from those guys if the Batang Pier want to extend the series.