AFTER making it back into the playoffs of the Philippine Basketball Association when they made a run in the past All-Filipino the Alaska Aces are poised to go even further this coming PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Aces brought in talented big man Antonio Campbell with no less than former Alaska resident import Sean Chambers accompanying him.
“Antonio is an extremely skilled player with a high basketball IQ. With continued development he has a chance to have a career in the NBA. Add to his height is the fact that he can dribble the ball like a guard. He can shoot the three ball and has high-level post up skills,” said Chambers.
The former Alaska import has plenty of experience about leading his team to the playoffs and to championships. After all he is the import with the most number of PBA championships won.
Campbell was quick to show his capabilities leading the team to three consecutive victories —over Talk N Text KaTropa, Barangay Ginebra and NLEX Road Warriors—in tuneup games before the start of the conference.
Ironically, Campbell played his best game thus far in an Alaska uniform during his first practice game when he exploded 29 points to power his team to a decisive 106-97 victory over TNT last April 11.
Campbell, who arrived less than two days before the practice game, was phenomenal as he needed to play only three quarters to lead the Aces to an insurmountable lead.
Coach Alex Compton expressed his satisfaction at the performance of the 23-year-old big man. Campbell, a former Ohio Bobcat, stamped his class early and helped Alaska erect a 16-point lead, 70-54, midway through the third quarter.
“The big thing for us was just trying to get Tony used to how the game will be officiated, facing another import, seeing really quick, good guards in Terrence (Romeo) and Jayson (Castro) on the floor, having to guard the ball screen and get back, and just know sort of what it looks like,” Compton said.
Campbell is already scary good and threatens to become even better which the Aces hope will be enough to take them deep into the playoffs and hopefully get the chance to compete for their 15th PBA title.