Struggling Alaska squad looks to bounce back from loss to San Mig Coffee

Games today:

Araneta Coliseum

5:15 p.m.- Alaska vs. Meralco

7:30 p.m.- Barako Bull vs. Petron

The Alaska Aces made a lot of noise in the pre-season, winning seven of eight tune-up games including a title finish in the Cebu City Mayor’s Cup. The Aces, however, groped for form in their first assignment in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup and lost badly to the San Mig Coffee Mixers.

Alaska tries to recover from that frustrating loss when it plays the Meralco Bolts in today’s double-header at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces succumbed to the Coffee Mixers, 83-103, in a game that saw them struggling to run their offense. Worse, the Aces were also in disarray defensively, allowing the Coffee Mixers of former Alaska coach Tim Cone to score at will.

New recruits Dondon Hontiveros and JVee Casio had contrasting outings in their Alaska debuts. Hontiveros displayed a solid performance by finishing with a team-high 14 points while Casio just managed three markers.

The Bolts started the tournament with a heart-breaking 110-112 overtime loss to the defending champions Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters.

Meralco mounted a gallant fight in that loss where they clawed back from several 20-point leads but fell short in the end.

In the main game, the Barako Bull Energy Cola faces the powerhouse Petron Blaze Boosters.

Barako Bull greeted the tournament with a scrambling 90-87 win over the Air21 Express.

A win over Petron will push Barako Bull to a two-way tie at the number one spot with the Barangay Ginebra Kings, who racked up two straight wins to start the tournament.

Owing to their star-studded lineup, the Boosters are touted as one of the title favorites but their campaign took off to a shaky start after they got ambushed by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 86-102, last week.