THE Alaska Aces team in the Philippine Basketball Association is almost synonymous with ‘Jolas’ or Isabelo Lastimosa, Jr, the most famous professional basketball player that Cagayan de Oro ever had.
And so when the popular PBA team, that even became more familiar with its slogan ‘Wala Pa Ring Tatalo Sa Alaska,’ announced its exit in the so-called Liga ng Bayan, the basketball-loving Kagay-anons got startled and so their illustrious townmate.
The stunning announcement was recently made by no less than team owner Wilfred Uytengsu.
“Sayang talaga. I knew that this was going to happen, but I am still surprised,” said Lastimosa, a first cousin of Cagayan de Oro journalist Terry Dela Cuesta-Betonio, who dramatically won nine of his 10 league championships with the Uytengsu-owned ballclub.
The so-called ‘Mr. Clutch,’ ‘4th Quarter Man,’ and ‘PBA Jordan’ because of his deadly perimeter shooting told the press that he and the champion members of the Alaska team ― old and new ― can only be nostalgic of the said development.
“It was a very special part of my life,” said Lastimosa, who powered Alaska to its first-ever championship during the 1991 Third Conference after he was traded from Purefoods in exchange for Boy Cabahug.
For the ageless coach Hermogenes Anciado, the Alaska team will forever be etched in the hearts of Kagay-anons because of Lastimosa that he once helped in his young basketball career.
“After sa iyang magulang (Danny), gidala namo si Jojo sa Mama’s Love Cebu where I used to be the star player. Nagtuloy-tuloy na iyang swerte na-draft sa PBA then, nagdugay sa Alaska,” the now 60-something Anciado told Gold Star Daily.
After nearly four decades, Alaska formally announced on Wednesday, February 16, that it is retiring from the PBA where the Aces claimed 14 championships, including a rare Grand Slam.
“We thought long and hard before making this final decision. However, we believe that this will allow us to focus our resources on providing affordable nutrition for Filipino families,” said Uytengsu.
