A story of survival: The Alaska Aces in the 2013-14 Philippine Cup

Their heads were down, with looks of confusion on their faces. The fingers started to point at each other for botched plays and missed defensive assignments. The once crisp passing and outside shooting that had brought them a championship not even a year ago seemed like such a distant memory.

The Alaska Aces were in trouble. And the clock had not even rung in 2014 yet.

Everyone had a theory as to what was ailing Alaska. Whether it was the transformation of Calvin Abueva from a ferocious beast to a tamed puppy, the core of Alaska aging overnight, or the lack of a defensive identity, there were many factors to point to.

But while everyone seemed to have an answer, all Alaska had were questions. A ton of them.

Should they have drafted a rookie ready to immediately contribute in the draft instead of a player for the future in Ryan Buenafe?

Did the coaching staff overestimate the team’s ability to compete with basically the same lineup vs other vastly reloaded PBA teams?

Was Aldrech Ramos ready to be the heir to Tony Dela Cruz as a stretch forward?

Was Calvin Abueva a one-hit wonder?

The losses started to pile up, and Alaska sunk lower and lower in the standings. After a painful loss to the GlobalPort Batang Pier, the Aces were staring at the abyss. One more loss, and their Philippine Cup stint would be over in humiliating fashion. A championship contender being relegated to a pretender.

Witn one fell swoop in one conference, the Aces were facing a dire situation - a possible return to the dark days where losses were more commonplace than wins.

They say one’s true character can be seen by how someone responds in the face of adversity. And in basketball there are very few tests of character than entering a do-or-die game, which Alaska was tasked to do. They would have to survive not once, but four times just to extend their season and make it to the semifinals.

To survive is to be pinned in a corner and still find a way to overcome. Walking wounded and facing danger, Alaska would have to enter into survival mode to stay alive.

Against Barako Bull last Sunday, they played together with purpose. The ball was zipping around the court like a ticking time bomb. They exploited the holes in Barako’s defense.

They survived.

[Related: Aces defeat Barako, keep postseason hopes alive]

Against the tough Meralco Bolts, they fought back. Literally. They showed the physicality that came to define them last season in the PBA, and took the fight to the Bolts. If in previous games this season they were pushed and then folded, this time they pushed back (and threw some elbows as well).

They survived.

[Related: Alaska survives Gary David-fueled Meralco comeback try, gets last QFs berth]

Against Barangay Ginebra and it’s fearsome devoted fanbase, they sucked the life out of the Mall of Asia Arena and hardly gave any of them time to celebrate. Ginebra’s march towards the semis as the number one seed was halted for the meantime. With 24 assists on 41 made shots, Alaska’s strategy on offense left the Gin Kings reeling and confused. With a 104-97 victory, Alaska placed Ginebra in the same perilous situation they were in. The pressure to advance now weighs heavily on both squads.

They survived.

[Related: Alaska survives anew, forces do-or-die with top-seeded Ginebra]

Alaska continues to survive.

There have been consequences to their actions. Gabby Espinas might have to miss game two against Ginebra on Saturday because of his two-hit combination on Cliff Hodge last Monday. A decision, in the heat of the moment, that could have dangerous ramifications for the Aces moving forward.

At the end of the day, it's very possible that all this won't mean anything. Ginebra could win on Saturday and continue their rampage through the conference, leaving Alaska hoping for a better performance next conference and the return of Rob Dozier. It’s very possible that this revival has come too late, and the burden of winning all these games might weigh too heavily on their backs.

But right now, this moment means everything for Alaska. These last three games, this team has shown that they are willing to fight again. With their backs against the wall, their character has shown through when they needed it most.

For now, there are no more questions about their will to win and to fight. There is only a race against time and record, as they are locked in the octagon against the Goliath of the PBA.

One more time they will have to show what they are made of.

One more time they will have to survive. - AMD, GMA News