ALASKA coach Alex Compton said the Aces need to grind it out both mentally and physically if they want to build a comfortable 2-0 cushion in their best-of-five semifinal series against Meralco in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
Armed with a 1-0 edge, Alaska looks to tighten its grip on the series in Game 2 when it anticipates Meralco’s fightback in their 7 p.m. clash today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After his Aces’ 97-94 win over the game Bolts in the series opener Monday night, Compton believes mental and physical toughness will be the keys to victory.
“I told our guys this is going to be a tough series,” said Compton. “We’ve got to be tough physically and mentally to win this series. We’re a step closer, but we expect them to come back.”
A win for the Aces will shove them a game closer to clinching a fourth finals’ appearance in the last five conferences.
Meralco, which is just in its second semifinal stint, showed a lot of potential in Game 1, but also flaunted its flaws, blowing a nine-point lead early the fourth to allow Alaska to close in and snatch the victory.
Game Today
(Semis, Game 2 – Smart
Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. – Alaska vs. Meralco