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TOP 10 All Time Greatest Alaska Aces

Monday, January 5, 2015 3 comments

For Alaska Aces fans, here are your TOP 10 Greatest Players in all PBA history. The ranking is based on their achievements, impact as a player and their tenure in the team.

#10 Bong Alvarez

Career history
Alaska Milkmen (1989-1992)

Career highlights and awards
PBA Mythical First Team (1990)

Paul Alvarez turned pro in 1989 and was drafted third overall by Alaska Milk. He made an impact from his very first game delighting the crowd with his high-flying antics. Soon after, fans and TV announcers started calling him "Mr.Excitement".

Alvarez shattered the record for most points by an individual in a single-game held by Allan Caidic. He poured in 71 points in Alaska's 169-138 victory over Formula Shell on April 26, 1990. That same year, he made it to the Mythical five selection for the first time but injured his Achilles heel in Game 3 of the 1990 PBA Third Conference Finals against Purefoods

#9 Poch Junio

Career history
Alaska Milkmen - 1994–2000
Alaska Milkmen 2006–2008

Career highlights and awards

PBA All-Star (1996)
PBA Most Improved Player (1996)
PBA All-Filipino Cup Finals Most Valuable Player (2000)

The former 6'5" standout of the UP Fighting Maroons was drafted 5th overall by the Alaska Milkmen in 1994. He had a decent beginning in his career but his moment came in 1996 when was awarded as the Most Improved Player of the Season. He was a key part of the 1996 Grand Slam Team of the Milkmen. In 2000, he was named as the Finals MVP of the 2000 PBA All-Filipino Cup. Returning to Alaska in the 2006-07 PBA season where we won another championship in 2007. He retired after the 2007-08 Season.

#8 LA Tenorio

Career history
Alaska Aces 2008–2012

Career highlights and awards

PBA All-Rookie team (2007)
PBA Most Improved Player (2010)
PBA Mythical first team (2010)
PBA Fiesta Conference Co-Finals Most Valuable Player (w/ Cyrus Baguio)
3x PBA All-Star (2009, 2011, 2012)
Most Minutes Played (2010)
2012 William Jones Cup Finals MVP
PBA Commissioner's Cup Best Player of the Conference Award (2013)

In a surprise move in March, 2008 the Alaska Aces traded Mike Cortez and Ken Bono for Magnolia’s LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier. The Aces have been happy with the trade as they got a pure point guard in Tenorio to make life easier for Willie Miller who could now concentrate on his scoring.

In the first four games of the 2009-2010 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Tenorio has not disappointed the Alaska expectation. As a starting point guard Tenorio led the Alaska team to a scrambling victory over San Miguel Beer in their first game. In their next three games Tenorio was ever the reliable point guard who led his team to the top of the standings in the PBA.

#7 Sonny Thoss

Career history
Alaska Aces 2004–present

Career highlights and awards

PBA All Rookie Team (2005)
2x PBA Mythical First Team (2010, 2011)
2x PBA Mythical Second Team (2008, 2012)
PBA Sportsmanship Award (2011)
10x PBA All-Star (2004-13)
PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals MVP (2013)

He was the 5th overall pick in the 2004 PBA draft selected by the Alaska Aces and he's also the tallest rookie picked in that class. In his early years, Sonny was backup Center for the Aces behind with the dominant bigman Ali Peek and E.J. Feihl in Alaska's Bigman Rotation.

Thoss is currently the oldest franchise player in the current Alaska rotation. Being a reliable big man, he's been an integral for Alaska Aces championships.

#6 Bong Hawkins

Career history
Alaska Milkmen 1993–2000
Alaska Milkmen 2005–2006

Career highlights and awards

3x PBA All-Star (1994–1996)
PBA Most Improved Player (1994)
PBA All-Defensive team (1994)
2x PBA Mythical Second team (1994, 2000)
2x PBA Mythical First team (1995, 1996)
PBA Commissioner's Cup Best Player of the Conference (1996)

In 1994 he became an integral part of Alaska's success in the 1990s alongside Jojo Lastimosa, Johnny Abarrientos and import Sean Chambers. He became the Most Improved Player of the 1994 Season. In 1996, he was a part of the Grand Slam Team led by then-MVP Abarrientos. He was named to the Mythical Five and Mythical Second Team several times. He would play for the Milkmen until 2000.

In 2005-06 PBA season, he retired and worked for Tim Cone as one of his assistant coaches. During the 25th Anniversary of Alaska last September 27, 2010, his number 16 was retired along with Johnny's number 14. He is currently on the coaching staff for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons Men's Basketball Team.

#5 Jeffrey Cariaso

Career history

Alaska Milkmen / Alaska Aces - 1995–1997

Career Achievements

#21 All Time Scoring Leader
Rookie of the Year 1995
Mythical First Team 2003
Mythical First Team 2002
Mythical First Team 1999
Mythical Second Team 2000
Mythical Second Team 1996
All-Defensive Team 2002
All-Defensive Team 2000
All-Defensive Team 1997
All-Defensive Team 1996
Best Player of the Conference 2002 All-Filipino Finals
Finals Most Valuable Player 2003 All-Filipino

He was first drafted by the Alaska Aces (then known as the Alaska Milkmen) during the 1995 PBA draft as the sixth overall. During his rookie year, he won the Rookie of the Year Award. And in only his second year in the league, he achieved a rare Grand Slam with the Aces where he was instrumental in that majestic championship run. In the middle of the 2004–05 PBA season, he along with Bong Hawkins were traded back to the Alaska Aces in exchange for all-stars John Arigo and Ali Peek.

Jeff was the last active player remaining on that Alaska Grand Slam team of 1996. In the semifinals of the 2010 PBA fiesta conference, he announced his retirement after playing 15 seasons in the league. His number 22 was also retired by the Alaska Aces and the Coca-Cola Tigers.

#5 Jojo Lastimosa

Career history

Alaska Aces 1991–2000

Career highlights and awards

PBA Rookie of the Year (1988)
3x PBA Mythical Second Team (1988, 1995, 1999)
3x PBA Mythical Five (1991, 1996, 1998)
9x PBA All-Star (1989-1992, 1994, 1996-1999

From Purefoods he was traded to Alaska Milk in 1991 for Cabahug. At Alaska, his career further blossomed as he became an integral part of the Triangle offense. In his first season with Alaska, Lastimosa played the best season of his career, leading the league in statistical points before narrowly losing the MVP award to former teammate Alvin Patrimonio . Lastimosa carried Alaska while Alavares is injured, which had its finest season in the league until that point, winning the first championship in franchise history in the Third Conference that year. He skippered the Milkmen to the 1996 Grand Slam together with eventual 1996 MVP Johnny Abarrientos, Bong Hawkins and Jeffrey Cariaso, only the fourth Grand Slam in the league's history. During his stay with Alaska, he became a permanent fixture in the "Mythical Team" selection.

In 1998, he again led the Alaska team to the championship of both the All-Filipino and Commissioner's Cups together with Abarrientos, Hawkins and Kenneth Duremdes. The Grand Slam was then again beckoning but his inclusion to the 1998 Centennial Team (together with Abarrientos and Duremdes) that played in the 1998 William Jones Cup (Champions) and the Bangkok Asian Games (Bronze Medal) prevented the team from repeating their 1996 feat.

In 2002, Lastimosa found his way back to the Alaska Aces franchise where he ended his career in 2003.

During halftime of their 2003 season opening game, Alaska retired Lastimosa's #6 jersey. During the off season, Lastimosa announced his retirement after playing 15 seasons in the league.

#3 Willie Miller

Career history
Alaska Milkmen (2006-2010)

Career Achievements:

2x PBA Obstacle Challenge Champion (2006, 2008)
11x PBA All-Star (2001, 2003–2004, 2006–2011)
2x PBA Most Valuable Player (2002, 2007)
3x PBA Mythical First Team (2002, 2005, 2007)
2x PBA Mythical Second Team (2008–2009)
PBA All-Defensive Team (2003)
PBA Fiesta Best Player of the Conference (2005)
PBA Trick Shot Challenge Champion (2006)
PBA Fiesta Conference Finals Most Valuable Player (2007)
PBA All-Star Co-Finals Most Valuable Player (2007)
PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference (2009)
PBA Motolite Pangmatagalan Player of the Year (2009)
PBA Sportsmanship Award (2013-2014)
Most Minutes Played 2006-2007

At the middle of the 2006 Philippine Cup, Miller was traded to the Alaska Aces as part of a big trade with the Phone Pals.Miller's backcourt partner would be Mike Cortez and with them, Jeffrey Cariaso, Sonny Thoss, and Reynel Hugnatan, the Aces took third-place honors during the conference after falling a game short against Purefoods for a finals berth.

In the 2006-07 Philippine Cup, Miller led Alaska in numerous categories for the injury-riddled Aces.

In the 2007 Fiesta Conference, he led the Alaska Aces with the help of 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference Best Import Rossell Ellis to the championships once again after 5 years. Winning the championship against Talk 'N Text in seven games despite being down 3-2 in the series making it the club's 12th title. He also bagged the PBA Most Valuable Player once again in that season, as well as the PBA Finals MVP.

In the 08-09 PBA Philippine Cup All-Filipino Conference, Miller won his second best player of the conference award, leading his team to the best record in the eliminations and eventually to the championship round. There, Miller performed superbly, averaging 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.5 assists and making some clutch plays. In Game 2, with Alaska down 84-89 with less than 7 minutes to play, he sparked a fiery rally, scoring six points in a decisive 16-0 run that eventually won them the game. Miller also played the hero in Game 5, where he scored 15 points, including an emphatic (and somewhat ill-advised) game-clinching three-pointer with 8.7 seconds remaining.

#2 Kenneth Duremdes

Career history
Alaska Milkmen (1998-2002)

Career highlights and awards

10-time PBA All-Star (1995-2001, 2003-04)
1996 PBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
1996 PBA Mythical Second Team
1998 PBA All-Filipino Cup Finals Most Valuable Player
1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals Most Valuable Player
1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup Best Player of the Conference
1998 PBA Most Valuable Player
1998 PBA Mythical First Team
1999 PBA Two-Ball Competition Co-Champion (w/ Johnny Abarrientos)
1999 PBA Mythical Second Team
2000 PBA Mythical First Team
2000 PBA All-Filipino Cup Best Player of the Conference
2001 PBA Mythical Second Team

Duremdes is known for a big small forward at his time, like a Kevin Durant that can penetrates and can shot a clutch baskets. After his arrival with the 1996 Grandslam champions, Duremdes' career took a big rise. He had a strong showing with the Milkmen's Governors Cup title conquest of Purefoods.

In 1998, Duremdes led Alaska to the All-Filipino and Commissioner's Cup titles during the said year. He also won the Commissioner's Cup Best Player honors. Before leading the Philippines to a bronze-medal finish in the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Duremdes was named as the league's Most Valuable Player at age 24.

He would continue to have MVP numbers from 1999–2000, in which he led the Milkmen to the 2000 All-Filipino title. After becoming a free agent, he signed a reported 48 million peso to stay with the Aces in 2001, despite offers from teams such as the Mobiline Phone Pals. With Alaska focusing itself on rebuilding the team, Duremdes became the top man for the Aces along with young players John Arigo and Ali Peek. In 2002, he would again play for the country in the Busan Asian Games, becoming one of the most notable players on the squad. However, the squad failed to win a medal in the said event. Duremdes would then lead Alaska to a runner-up finish in the season-ending All-Filipino Conference.

In 2000, he became a member of the PBA's 25 Greatest Player's List, the youngest of the group.

#1 Johnny Abarrientos

Career history
Alaska Milkmen (1993-2001)

Career highlights and awards

PBA All-Star (1994-2001)
6x PBA Mythical First Team (1994-1999)
5x PBA All-Defensive Team (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004-05)
2x PBA Governor's Cup Finals Most Valuable Player (1996, 1997)
1996 PBA Most Valuable Player
1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup Best Player of the Conference
1999 PBA Two-Ball Competition Co-Champion (w/ Kenneth Duremdes)
2003 PBA Mythical Second Team

Abarrientos drafted as 3rd overall in the 1993 PBA Draft and showed impressive performances in his rookie season. In his second season, he was included in the RP National team bound for the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima, Japan.

From 1994-1998, Abarrientos led Alaska to eight PBA titles, including the grand slam winning 1996 season. He was named as the Most Valuable Player during the same season and the Best Player of the Conference in the Commissioner's Cup.

In 1997, talks of Abarrientos' potential participation in the NBA came, when Charlotte Hornets scout Joe Bettancourt offered Abarrientos a contract to participate in the Hornets' pre-season camp. Abarrientos, though, declined the offer to concentrate on his pro career in the PBA. In 1997 Abarrientos average a career high 16.7 Points and a league leading 8.6 assists per game.

In 1998, Abarrientos was included in the Philippine Centennial Team, coached by his Alaska mentor Tim Cone. With him, Alvin Patrimonio and fellow Alaska teammates Kenneth Duremdes, Bong Hawkins and Jojo Lastimosa, the Nationals took home the bronze medal in the Bangkok Asian Games.

Two years later, Abarrientos was named in the PBA's 25 Greatest Players of All-Time as part of the league's anniversary on April 9, 2000. During the same year, Abarrientos' career started to diminish despite the Aces winning the All-Filipino crown. After the season, Abarrientos and Poch Juinio were swapped to the Pop Cola Panthers for Ali Peek and Jon Ordonio.

bong hawkins, jeffrey cariaso, johnny Abarrientos, jojo lastimosa, Kenneth Duremdes, la tenorio, mike cortez, sonny thoss, willie miller, yoyoy villamin

TOP 20 Active PBA Players who never won an MVP as of 2014-2015

Saturday, December 13, 2014 0 comments

Here the players who never won the MVP as of 2014 PBA season. They're players who has promising achievements but doesn't have the luck to win the MVP.

NOTE: The ranking is based on their achievements regardless their years of tenure in PBA. The criteria are the following in order :

Numbers of Best Player of the Conference awards
Numbers of First Mythical , 2nd Mythical selections
Numbers of Finals MVP
Numbers of All Defensive Team , Defensive player of the year
Individual award Rookie of the Year ,Most Improve Player
Statistical awards
other special recognition award

Players like DonDon Hontiveros and other veterans were not able to reach in the ranking because of some other players has better record. Kerby Raymundo, Ali Peek and other deserving achiever were not included because they're no longer active.