Mike Harris played as if he never got hurt.
As his ankle has healed from a sprain that he got last September 2 versus Barangay Ginebra, Harris delivered 39 points and 25 rebounds to power the Alaska Aces past the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 106-89, Wednesday.
The 35-year-old’s best performance so far in the PBA helped the Milkmen gain a share of the third spot of the 2018 Governors’ Cup standings with the surging Blackwater Elite, who are also carrying a 4-1 win-loss record.
“I just tried to control the rebounds. Rebounds is an individual thing and that’s something I take pride in. Offensively I just had some shots fall,” said Harris of his outing moments after the match at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Mike Harris was great today,” lauded head coach Alex Compton.
“He’s our best player, and he showed it tonight.”
Harris scored 12 of his output in the final frame, playing a huge role in the Aces’ 16-0 run that turned a four-point deficit to a wide 91-79 lead with 5:20 left in the game. That overwhelming run practically closed the door for the Elasto Painters.
“I think we did a great job defensively. Those are shots that I take often — my teammates got trust in me,” said the 6-foot-5 forward.
“Every night there’s a different guy that steps up and tonight I kinda had it going in the first quarter.”
Alaska has regained its’ groove back after the loss to the Gin Kings. But another tall order is infront of them, as they will be facing the dreaded San Miguel Beermen this Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Though the Beermen have been struggling as of late as they will be heading into Saturday’s match with a two-game losing skid, Harris said that he and the Aces won’t still take the reigning All-Filipino kings lightly.
“I take it one game at a time, I treat every team with the respect they deserve. I’m new to all of this and I’m learning each team as we go. It’s one game at a time. I don’t look ahead to no game because if you do, you overlook opponents and that’s when losses occur,” said the 13-year journeyman.
“Every game is approached as if they’re a championship team.”
