[ad_1]
Barkley Eboña came out to the PBA in a big way in Alaska’s dominant win over Blackwater Elite on Tuesday.
The Aces rookie added 24 points thanks to a near-perfect shooting performance, hitting 10 of 11 from the field as his team clinched their second 2020 PBA Philippine Cup win with a 120-82 thrashing over your opponent. His point total is the highest production of a rookie so far in the conference.
“We are happy with Barkley’s growth. He is still learning and improving,” said Aces coach Jeff Cariaso in the fourth overall pick in the 2019 PBA Regular Draft. “What I like about him is his fight. This boy is tough as nails. “
Eboña has always been known as a fearless bully during his college days as a Tamaraw from FEU. The next step for him was how to hone his basic skills and transform them into an efficient executor in painting. Fortunately for him and the Aces, that’s where assistant coach Danny Ildefonso comes in.
Former two-time PBA MVP Ildefonso had a full package in the shaded area during his heyday. After a stellar professional career, he went on to train. He became an assistant to the Ateneo Blue Eaglets before finding a home with the NU Bulldogs and the Aces. Through all of his coaching opportunities, he has developed a relationship with aspiring big boys.
Even during the heyday of the Metro Manila lockdown, when team workouts were virtually limited on Zoom calls, Alaska’s coaching staff still made do with the circumstance.
“Coach Danny was always talking to him (Eboña),” Cariaso shared. “He always made sure that during practice he addressed his greats. Coach Danny really feels that his greats are his children. Coach Danny takes great care of them.”
It’s also no coincidence that Alaska’s front row has been doing the heavy lifting in the team’s 2-2 start in the conference. Guys like Abu Tratter, Jeron Teng, veteran Vic Manuel, and Eboña have consistently contributed so far.
“He’s still learning what it takes to be successful here in the PBA,” Cariaso said of his rookie center. “We are lucky and he is lucky that he has Coach Danny as a mentor. I told him to just listen to Coach Danny who will be fine.”
Eboña was a quicker pace Tuesday night than any of the Elite players, most of whom were his teammates at UAAP. He continually attacked the basket with ease, doing light work for Team Blackwater which is coached by Nash Racela, his former coach at FEU.
After the match, Eboña was quick to deflect credit for his stellar performance.
“I only get help from my teammates to build my confidence,” Eboña said in Filipino. “I just took the opportunity and am grateful that I was able to apply it to the game.”
Eboña also had added motivation heading into the game against Blackwater because it was the last day of the bubble for his injured teammate Kevin Racal. The swingman suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear that will force him to undergo surgery.
“Of course it is disappointing because it is leaving, but it is,” Eboña said. “I’m happy that before he left we won for him, for the Alaska fans.”
Eboña and the Aces will look to make three wins in a row when they face Painters Rain or Shine Elasto on Thursday.
“I can’t complain about how the first four games have gone. You win something, you lose something. But what I felt was most important was our growth,” Cariaso said, noting that Alaska still largely revolves around its two veterans Manuel. and Jvee Casio. “I feel like we grew a little bit in each and every game as we went along. Our defense got a little bit better as we went along. That’s all you can ask for in this kind of situation, in this kind of conference in the bubble”. . “
