• ACES EAGER TO COME OUT VS. CONE, LLAMADOS

There should be pleasantries but expect dagger looks as coach Tim Cone occupies his seat away from
the Alaska Milk Aces.

They will now be on opposite ends of the floor, trying to beat one another, and the battle could
only be very emotional.

Alaska team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu promising to catch the game from a trip abroad indicates
how big the game is for him.

The keenly awaited match is set at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Are there going to be some butterflies for me personally? Certainly,” said Cone, answering his
own question.

“It will obviously be an emotional game for all. We want to beat him and he will want to beat
us,” said Alaska skipper Tony dela Cruz.

Joel Banal, the man who inherited Cone’s job at Alaska, is treating it just another game, and Cone
can only wish the same.

“I know this is a big game in many people’s minds, but as a team we want to take the approach
that this is just another game,” said Cone.

“We need to advance in the standings. If it is a big game, it’s only because both teams are
coming off a loss and want to get the first win under our belts,” Cone added.

He expects the Llamados to be calm which he believes is more important because they will be the ones
who will make things happen on the court.

Understandably, there’s rancor in the Aces’ heart, but they promise not to let emotion get the
better of them.

“I think the team that can stay focused and calm the best will come out on top,” said Dela Cruz.

“I hope it’s going to be an exciting game for the fans and I hope we get the win,” Dela Cruz
added.

Banal do believe the two teams are in for an exciting battle.

“They can play big, we can play big; they can play small, we can play small. Both teams play
man-to-man defense and both teams run the triangle offense,” Banal noted.

Both are off to a losing start in the season with the Llamados bowing to the Petron Blaze Boosters,
69-73, and the Aces beaten by the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 72-83.

“We came off a loss so we have to improve our game offensively and defensively,” said Alaska
chief playmaker LA Tenorio. (SB)