Maliksi went back to basics
Exactly two weeks ago, Allein Maliksi was much-maligned by the Star faithful after the Star Hotshots’ 90-97 loss to the Alaska Aces. The seven-year league veteran turned from hero to zero in that game, going 0-for-6 in the last six minutes of the game that contributed to the loss.
“It’s just yung proper mechanics ng shot ko. Yung timing nawala, hindi ko na nakuha yung rhythm ko. Missed shot lang talaga,” Maliksi lamented after that game.
Maliksi turned that moment into a wake-up call, returning back to his bread and butter: defense.
“Tinanong ko na si coach Juno [Sauler] about that, ‘ano ba puwede kong gawin para tumagal pa?’,” the 29-year-old shared.
Prior to their all-important game against the Blackwater Elite, Maliksi told coach Chito Victolero that he is assigning himself to guard Mac Belo, who is averaging 16.0 points per outing.
“Ang mentality ko is play defense talaga, sabi ko kay coach, ‘ako na bahala kay Belo and sa mga babantayan ko,'” he added.
Belo struggled all throughout the game, scoring just six points on 3-of-7 shooting. And once he was able to accomplish his task, the offense came.
The 6-foot-4 guard from Makati blitzed the Elite in the third frame, going 5-of-8 from the field to score 12 of his game-high 26 points. Moreover, his effort on both ends helped give Star a 111-95 win to go just a win shy of clinching a playoff spot.
“I talked to Allein after our Alaska game. He is challenging himself. I told him that he has a go-signal to shoot,” Victolero shared. “Now, he is stepping up especially nung naghahabol yung Blackwater, siya yung nag-step up sa amin.”
And with elimination round down to its final two games for them, Maliksi plans to continue what he is doing, especially now that they have to play with a sense of urgency.
“Tulad ng alaska game, I need to be more focused and be better as a player, before and after practice talagang trabaho,” the lanky swingman vowed.
“Kailangan ko ng focus so di pwede na shoot lang nang shoot lahat pati proper mechanics ng release. Kung 10 shots dapat maka 7 out of 10 ako sa three points, dapat pataasin ko percentage.”
