By Rey Joble

ALASKA is sick and tired of losing.

Winless after three games, the Aces are trying to get the right card that could put their team back in contention.

Make way for the reentry of Rosell Ellis, the import who steered the Aces to the championship of the Fiesta Conference two seasons ago.

Ellis arrived yesterday morning and will play for the Aces tomorrow against the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants. He is coming off a fruitful stint in the National Basketball League in Australia, where he steered the Townsville Crocodiles to the playoffs.

A shade under 6’5”, Ellis is an undersized power forward, but makes up for his lack of size with hard work and determination. In fact, he led the NBL in rebounding in 2007 with 11.3 boards in 27 games before he was called by the Aces for another tour of duty in the PBA.

Ellis will replace another old timer, Galen Young, who was a ghost of his old self in three games with Alaska. In those three games, Young has fouled out.

The former Best Import awardee will try to save the Aces’ slumping campaign.

“He will surely provide us more energy up front,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone. “Galen has tried everything to help us, but we felt we need Rosell more at this stage, especially in defending the post and providing the weakside rebounding for our team.”

Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio is no stranger to Ellis, either. He knows the former McNesse State University and ex-player of the late agent Chiqui dela Rosa is a real workhorse.

“Ellis brings a lot of toughness on the table for Alaska. He is a blue-collar worker who will do what is required to win. We have to prepare hard against Alaska. Definitely they will do whatever it takes to get out of the cellar,” said Gregorio.