Alaska rookie pick Burtscher Hatfield in the making

Hardworking former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) superstar Rudy Hatfield was a player every coach wants to handle.

And Alaska coach Tim Cone might have a player in Hatfield’s mold when the Aces drafted Fil-Swiss forward Michael Burtscher.

“He (Burtscher) brings a lot of energy on the court. He reminds me so much of Rudy Hatfield," Cone told GMANews.TV. “He plays with so much endurance and runs up and down the court. I think he’s the kind of guy that we need."

The 24-year-old, 6-foot-5 banger will be a welcome addition to an Aces squad that needs some fine tuning.

The Aces have slotman Sonny Thoss, versatile forward Joe Devance and veteran lefties John Ferriols and Reynel Hugnatan.

The rookie pick has quickly impressed the Aces’ coaching staff in the first two days of practice.

“More than the size and athleticism, I think it was his attitude on the court that caught our attention," said Cone on the former Liga Pilipinas and Philippine Basketball League (PBL) stalwart.

“He’s a legitimate 6-foot-5, grabs the rebounds so well and runs the court like a small forward."

According to Cone, the winningest mentor among active PBA coaches with 12 championships, it was assistant coach Luigi Trillo who recommended Burtscher.

The multi-titled coach believes the Fil-Swiss player will soon fit into the Aces’ system. “Anybody can learn the Triangle Offense. It is just a matter of gaining experience with it. Burtscher has a lot of potential and he will work just fine."

“With Burtscher around, we can make a lot of experiments on Joe’s (Devance) versatility. Joe is one guy who can do so many things on the court. He can knock down perimeter shots and he can play underneath as well," added Cone.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has just signed rookie acquisition Chris Ross to a three-year maximum deal on Tuesday.

“He (Ross) will be a great addition to the team. He is a versatile and athletic guard," said Duremdes. “What I like about Chris is he is a pass-first point guard. But he can also play the no. 2 position. Just to show that he’s a versatile player. We’re excited to have him here." – GMANews.TV