(c) PBA Media Bureau
Remember that they traded their superstar Calvin Abueva during the Commissioner's Cup and did not get a starting caliber player in return.
Without the shadow of the Beast, two ballers rose to lead them to the 2018 Governors Cup finals, Chris Banchero and Vic Manuel.
Unfortunately, what Alaska have now may not be enough to win four games in a Finals series.
In the last two games of that series, Ian Sangalang and Romeo Travis tortured the aces with 78 total points and 42 total rebounds.
Vic Manuel did not even play in the last game because of an injury.
Alaska has a glaring need and it will be a huge mistake if they do not find a solution.
I am talking about a giant center. Yes. Not only a bigman who can play center but also someone who can go toe-to-toe with the other giants in the league.
After losing five finals with coach Alex Compton, who never had a giant local center in all of those series, Alaska should have learned their lesson.
Fortunately for them, the 2019 draft is forming to be a very deep draft, especially for centers.
Thanks to their Calvin Abueva trade, they are also holding the 2019 1st round pick of Phoenix. It will be really shocking if that pick will be much lower than 8th.
There is a real chance that a good center will still be available in the last five picks of the 2019 draft. But what if the majority of the projected 2019 PBA draft participants will postpone their entry?
With their pick and the Phoenix pick, Alaska has an opportunity to grab not only one but two young centers next year.
Their recent defeat at the hands of Magnolia should be a lesson for Alaska that an elite import is not enough.
They need at least one giant.
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