Things could not be worse for the Blackwater Elite.
On Wednesday evening, the Elite absorbed their fourth straight loss in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup. They were nipped by the Alaska Aces, 101-103 – no thanks to clutch buckets from Chris Banchero and Sonny Thoss.
The Elite are now down to 1-6, and their chances of making it into the playoffs are slim.
Blackwater’s situation is a far cry from the 2018 Governors’ Cup. In that campaign, they finished the elimination round with a franchise-best 7-4 record and made it into the quarterfinals.
But for Allein Maliksi, he and the Elite aren’t thinking of the playoffs yet. Instead, they are focused on playing better as a unit since they are still clearly reeling from the departure of Nard Pinto and 6-foot-7 slotman Poy Erram.
“Iniisip lang namin every game mag-improve kami.
“Every game lumalaban. Hindi yung lopsided na tambak talaga kami – yun yung talagang iniiwasan namin eh,” said the eight-year pro moments after the loss to Alaska.
Their improvement was visible in the way they fought the Aces. Blackwater were down by as many as 13, 50-63, in the third, but they climbed back and even took a 100-99 lead with jist 1:15 remaining in the game.
“Today, medyo proud ako sa mga teammates ko and sa team ko. Kasi, kahit nalalamangan kami ng double-digit, nakakabalik kami,” said the 31-year-old gunner out of UST.
“Yung sa dulo, medyo breaks of the game. ‘Di kami naka-depensa.”
Still, Maliksi warned that the Elite cannot be impatient while they are going through this process.
“We need to be patient about it. Hindi pwede mawalan ng pasensya. Ako hinahabaan ko rin kasi minsan gusto ko na mainis, pero hindi pwede kasi hindi ka pwede bumigay as a leader,” said the Grand Slam champion with San Mig Coffee.
“Malaking responsiblity mo na maging strong ka, at mag-set ng good example.”
