If there was one player who played a huge role in Gilas Pilipinas 3×3’s crushing 19-20 loss to Canada, it is Michael Linklater.
The 35-year-old guard scored a team-high nine points in the contest — including the game-winner with three seconds left.
And beyond the game-winner, the 178 centimer-tall cager from Saskatoon, Canada he was the one who kept on attacking the paint as he tried to stop every rally Roger Pogoy and Gilas 3×3 attempted.
Being a veteran in the FIBA 3X3 World Tour circuit, he knows how the crowd plays a huge factor in a tournament like this. That is why he knew that he had to keep pushing the pace to stop the momentum the crowd was getting.
“We’ve been playing 3×3 for a long time and we knew the crowd was going to be a factor for the home team,” said the 2017 FIBA 3X3 World Tour Most Spectacular Player.
“It was part of our gameplan to not let the home crowd rattle us.”
Despite being a more experienced team than the quickly-formed Gilas 3×3, the Canadians knew going in that the hosts, composed of PBA pros, were better than them individually. The only edge they had was chemistry and poise.
“We knew they were going to hit some big shots and its going to be hard fought so we kept our composure,” he furthered.
Now that they have advanced to the final day, Linklater and the Maple Leafers are looking to relish playing in front of a passionate Filipino crowd.
“Great experience to play in this kind of crowd.”
