Alaska coach Jeff Cariaso recalls moment team learned of ball club's PBA exit

There was an eerie silence inside the Alaska's camp the moment they learned from team owner Fred Uytengsu that their days in the PBA are now numbered.

Aces head coach Jeff Cariaso, who played for the franchise from 2004 to 2010, recalled that they were at their lounge area watching Uytengsu on a wide screen when they heard of the news.

"Yesterday was a day we will never forget because when they announced it, I honestly didn't know a couple days before that," said Cariaso following Alaska's 80-74 win over Rain or Shine Thursday.

"We were in our lounge where we watched our videos and we were all there listening to boss Fred on a big screen and when the announcement came out, I guess everyone from the ball boys to the coaches to the medical staff was just quiet."

Cariaso said that before the announcement, they were looking forward to the long-term future of the team and had no idea of Alaska's exit.

"We didn't know pretty much until yesterday. All the preparations that we have been doing from last year are all in the thought of how we are going to be better not just for this conference but for the future," Cariaso said.

"We were looking forward to the two first-round picks for the draft we have this year. Everything we did prior to Feb 16 was really assuming that we would maintain and keep the team."

Now, the team is just focusing on their "last dance" in the PBA. The Governors' Cup will be Alaska's final conference in the league.

The Aces will next face Terrafirma on Saturday at 4 p.m. hoping to improve its current standing at 4-2.

—MGP, GMA News