I still remember the day the Alaska Basketball Team debuted in the PBA in 1986 – fresh, white and squeaky clean.
It had a patina of wholesomeness, an aura of privilege, a fresh energy that seemed to bounce off the players as they warmed up before the crowd.
In a league where teams represented coffee (Great Taste), beer (Manila Beer), rum (Tanduay), gin (Ginebra), and gasoline (Shell), Alaska’s entry as the Alaska Milkmen placed them in a different category altogether.
They had that preppy vibe, a yuppy glow. For one, their mentor Tony Vasquez was a former juniors champion coach with no prior pro basketball experience. Their young team manager, Joel Aquino, was out of the cast of the typical “Tito” team boss. And then of course, their team owner who made it a point to be there with his wife Kelly every game day, was the genteel and debonair Wilfred Stephen Uytengsu, a corporate star.
The first Milkmen were no pushovers though. Arnie Tuadles, Ricky Relosa, Rudy Distrito, Noli Banate, Ponky Alolor and Marte Saldaňa were tough as nails. Frankie Lim, Teddy Alfarero and Dennis Abbatuan were sparky youngsters. Rey Cuenco, Reynaldo Ramos and the sweet-shooting Naning Valenciano were solid draft finds.
On their first conference of their first season, they made it to the Final Four.
The next year they came back as team Hills Bros. Coffee and captured fan attention thanks to the rough-tough duo of Relosa and then recently acquired Ironman, Elpidio Villamin. They were dubbed The Bruise Brothers. Coached by former Toyota stalwart Nat Canson, the team also carried the legendary Bogs Adornado alongside Joey Marquez in the line-up. Surprising or not, Alaska made it to the PBA Finals in a Coffee War against Great Taste which was only on its second season. It was Great Taste that won the championship though.
The following year—still known as the Coffee Kings and now coached by former Tanduay champion coach Turo Valenzona—the boys made it to the finals anew against the venerable San Miguel Team but failed to clinch the crown again.
More changes ensued. Bogs Adornado got to hold the coaching reins for a while. Personnel came and went.
In 1989, sparks flew. The long reign of Tim Cone as Alaska head coach began. Another debonair gentleman, Joaqui Trillo, took over as team manager. Exciting additions like Jojo Lastimosa delighted fans. High-flying Bong “Mr. Excitement” Alvarez joined the group in 1990 and the team reincarnated as The Alaska Air Force. More thrilling additions like Eugene Quilban, Rhoel Gomez and Alex Araneta sent a charge through the Alaska bench.
In 1991, the team finally won it all, sending crowd favorite Ginebra San Miguel home after winning their best of five, 3-1, behind all-time favorite import Sean Chambers. From then on, there was no looking back for Alaska.
With Johnny Abarrientos, Bong Hawkins and 6’5 prodigy Poch Juinio in their arsenal, the team carved out a dynasty that would dominate the league through the second half of the 90s. In 1996, it achieved a rare Grand Slam – previously accomplished only by the San Miguel Beermen (1989) and the fabled Crispa Redmanizers (1976 and 1983). Another unforgettable Alaska hero, Jeffrey Cariaso, was forged from these battles.
Now called the Alaska Aces, Fred Uytengsu’s team would amass four Grand Slams total and 14 championships in the PBA. Titled or not, the Aces would continue to charm and endear itself to fans, as it made waves not just in the hardcourt but also out of it.
Kids and their parents hail the Alaska Power Camp for growing the sport of basketball among the youth. Soccer too. Its Ironkids program develops kids to be future triathletes. Its partnership with the NBA for Jr. NBA Philippines has bred many of today’s basketball stars – Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ricci Rivero, Kobe Paras, Kib Montalbo, Aljun Melecio, to name just a few.
So the news of Alaska finally saying goodbye to competitive sports hit a lot of people hard, myself included. Alaska was always a model team with intact principles and a sterling character that elevates the game and the business of basketball.
We will miss Alaska’s brand of basketball that nourished our basketball souls.
[Tessa Jazmines is one of the first women sportswriters in the country who ventured into the then still exclusively male profession in the 70s. A journalism graduate with a masters in communication from the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, she teaches communication, public relations and sports writing, at UP, and runs her own PR company, Larc&Asset PR.]