Henry Walker is rarely seen dunking in games since he became a part of the Blackwater Elite in the 2017 Governor’s Cup. From a high-scoring import, he’d shifted his focus to rebounding and facilitating for his teammates.
But the American import made a rare dunk on Wednesday night. And it was something that he needed to do.
Walker drove hard to the rim and rose up for a one-handed jam — a dunk that truly meant a lot, as it downed the Magnolia Hotshots, 86-84, and helped the Elite post their first win in eight games in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.
“Couldn’t leave it to chance.
“I don’t really dunk anymore but for the game, I didn’t want to get it blocked, my daughter’s watching, I got to put it down for the win,” said the 30-year-old after the match at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The former Boston Celtic and New York Knick finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. After Wednesday night, the 6-foot-6 reinforcement is posting norms 11.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 3.5 assists.
Obviously, Walker’s scoring isn’t at-par with his peers. But that is the least of his concerns.
“The last thing you need to worry about is me scoring points in the PBA. I can torch anybody I want to but it’s not about me scoring though,” said Walker, who’s already a veteran import in the league as he had stints with Alaska and NLEX.
“I can’t win unless the guys pick up the pace and pick up their own work, carry their own slack and that’s what we’re seeing now.”
Now that he and the Elite have tasted what it’s like to win again, Walker makes it known that winning is his main focus, as the Elite go into their last four games in the mid-season conference, where they will try to save their playoff hopes.
“I’m going for the win. We’re gonna win. That’s how we’re approaching it. The only way we can. We’re building for the last conference but at the same time, I don’t come over here to lose. I don’t have that in my body,” stressed the 47th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
“It doesn’t matter how it looks, we got to win. That’s the goal for the last three, make the big bosses give up some bonuses man.”
