SIMON Enciso hopes that, after falling short during the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup despite a strong start, Alaska Aces can complete the job in the ongoing Governors’ Cup.
The Aces are off to a strong start in the Governors’ Cup and the 5-foot-11 Filipino-American guard emerged as one of the key players of the team after trading away want-away Calvin Abueva to Phoenix Fuel Masters.
“I just take it one shot at a time. I don’t think of what happened before. I just stay in the present,” said Enciso, who tallied career-best 30 points in the Aces’ 125-96 win over TNT KaTropa recently.
“(The 3-0 start) is really big for us,” he added. “This is big for us, especially going to a league break. We want to have a good amount of games won before the PBA goes on break.”
Enciso, who was named PBA Player of the Week recently, acknowledged that keeping the streak going will be a tall order for the Aces, but insists that playing with a lot of confidence could make a difference.
“Confidence is big in this game,” he said. “As long as everybody’s confident and we’re all on the same page, we know we can make a run for it. That’s the goal, win a championship. But for now, it’s a great start for us.”
Enciso and the Aces will hope to keep their streak going when it faces defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
ON TO FIBA WORLD QUALIFIER
With the Philippine basketball team’s campaign in the 2018 Asian Games now over, head coach Yeng Guiao now shifts his focus to assembling the Gilas Pilipinas team that will compete in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifier later this month.
Guiao, who was tapped to handle the national squad in lieu of suspended Chot Reyes, said he is eyeing San Miguel Beermen’s Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter, Magnolia Hotshots’ Ian Sangalang, and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Scottie Thompson.
“Actually I haven’t talked to them so it’s still their choice but they will be invited on Monday,” said Guiao. “Nasabi ko na na si Marcio, si Alex Cabagnot, sila Scottie Thompson. So far iyon lang muna.”
The three will join the core of the Philippine squad in the Asian Games – Gabe Norwood, John Paul Erram, Paul Lee, Asi Taulava, Raymond Almazan, and Beau Belga – and Gilas mainstays Allein Maliksi and Matthew Wright.
Moreover, Guiao may have to choose between Stanley Pringle and Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger – both eligible to play for the Qualifier only as a naturalized player.
“Sa big men nga mamomroblema pa tayo dahil mawawalaan tayo ng naturalized. Kung si Stanley, mawawalaan tayo ng isang malaki. Kung si Christian naman, mawawalaan tayo ng isang magaling na gwardya. Hindi pa natin alam,” said Guiao.
The Philippines will be forced to field in a different lineup for the first window of the second round of the World Cup Qualifier, with 10 Gilas players suspended for their role in a brawl with Australia Boomers on July 2 in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Gilas will open the second round of qualifiers against three-time Asian men’s basketball champion Iran on Sept. 14 in Tehran before hosting Qatar in a closed-door game in Manila on Sept. 17./PN
