Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Henry Walker all praises to Allein Maliksi’s end-game heroics


In most of their games back in the 2017 Governor’s Cup’s elimination phase, the Blackwater Elite had import Henry Walker saving them. But in the curtain-raiser of the quarterfinals, it was the ‘new guy’ who played the hero’s role.

That is, Allein Maliksi — the player whom the Elite had acquired last September 11 through a multi-player trade with the Star Hotshots.

The six-foot-four veteran gunslinger nailed a tough jumper off the curl with 9.5 seconds left to play, a shot that sent the Meralco Bolts’ win-once playoff incentive into tatters, 92-91, Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

And with that, the 29-year-old Walker — who had given the key assist to Maliksi in that sequence — was all high praises to Maliksi.

“It was just fitting that the new guy that came in and giving us that new weapon, he put it in at the end and it was a great shot. I felt more happy about that than any of my points,” lauded Walker, who finished with 30 points, 18 boards and six assists.

For the former NBA cager, what really stood for him was not just the game-winner, but the way Maliksi handled himself in the toughest of times.2017-pba-governors-cup-quartefinals-blackwater-def-meralco-allein-maliksi Henry Walker all praises to Allein Maliksi's end-game heroics Basketball News PBA  - philippine sports news

“Of course it was the game-winner but just how calm he was, he was ready,” said Walker, the fourth-ranked import in the league.

“He’s just cool and confident. He’s never out of character and he’s always under control. He’s just a scorer.”

Tuesday night was truly euphoric for the Elite side. But Walker knows that they cannot rest on their laurels yet, as they anticipate a furious fightback by the Bolts this coming Thursday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

#ReadMore  Kib Montalbo proving that he belongs in TNT's starting five

“I warned the guys, they’re a championship caliber team. We just poked the bear, and if you’re from the country like I am, you gotta be ready what happens when the bear turns around,” he said.

“We better be ready or we’re gonna get whooped off the court.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Meralco turned what was thought to be a dogfight to a lopsided mauling as it whipped Ginebra, 91-73, to arrest its two-game slide in...

Basketball

Robert Bolick saved NLEX through clutch free throws once again to escape Meralco, 99-96, for its second win in the PBA Season 48 Philippine...

News

Bong Quinto came through in overtime as Meralco survived the hard-fighting Rain or Shine, 121-117, to barge into the win column of the PBA...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Rey Nambatac refused to see his debut become a footnote as he saved Blackwater from a massive collapse against Meralco, 96-93, in...

Basketball

Phoenix Super LPG showed how much it learned the last time out by overcoming Meralco, 88-84, to complete the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup...

Basketball

Meralco came from behind and beat Phoenix Super LPG in triple overtime, 116-107, to push their PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal series to...

Basketball

Meralco outlasted Terrafirma, 109-102, to keep its twice-to-beat bid alive in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. The...

Basketball

Jeremy Lin sparked the third-quarter turnaround as New Taipei kept its mastery of Meralco, 89-77, to remain unbeaten in the 2023-24 East Asia Super...

Advertisement