Allein Maliksi scored a career-high 29 points against the Tropang TNT last week, highlighted by a perfect 6-for-6 from three-point area to help the Star Hotshots win, 96-88.
Entering that game, Maliksi had been enjoying his most productive conference yet in a Star uniform, averaging 24.8 minutes — almost double of his career minutes/game average — while scoring 15.4 points/game.
Such rise in Maliksi’s performance has something to do with the confidence given to him by his coaching staff, and the extra work he puts in during practice.
“I always think na, ano ba ang kailangan ko gawin, kailangan ko bang i-challenge ang sarili ko to be better? I am not as a consistent player before, and ung mga doubts na ‘yun, yun ang mga tina-try ko i-overcome and i-challenge ang sarili ko na, hindi, kaya ko yun,” Maliksi said.
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“Sa akin, medyo tinatrabaho ko yun sa practice eh, talagang tinrabaho ko to improve myself. Every time na may game, I always challenge myself na last game ganito yung performance ko, can I top that? Kumbaga, can I beat my previous game,” Maliksi said.
“Yung unang pasok ko hindi pa ako nakakakuha ng opportunities, so yung offense, hinayaan ko na lang pumunta sa akin. Eventually, yung hardwork ko, yun lumabas.”
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Asked about what makes him more consistent in the conference, Maliksi answered: “Siguro playing time, and yung confidence ni coach Jason. Ngayon thankful ako and tinatrabaho ko talaga sa practice na every second na nilalaro ko sa court, binibigay ko lahat. Tinatrabaho ko lang sa practice, then nagta-translate sa game.”
The wing man also received high praise from head coach Jason Webb, saying Maliksi had kept the Hotshots in the game with his red-hot offensive display.
“Allein just played solid. We had an idea one thing we were going to struggle with today is scoring because bago nga ang import namin. That would mean four guys knew the play, and Allein kept us alive in the first half. He shot the lights out,” Webb said.
Marc Pingris also spoke highly of Maliksi’s work ethic.
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“Maaga siya, pagkatapos ng practice nage-extra shooting siya. Maganda ang patience niya sa sarili niya, kasi dati diba hindi siya nagagamit o pangit yung nilalaro niya. At least ngayon nalalabas niya ang laro niya. Masaya ka na lahat ng player nag-i-step up,” the forward said.
Just a conference ago, Maliksi was involved in an issue wherein he had posted a photo on Instagram hinting at a demand for more minutes. He quickly deleted the post but the damage had already been done, and he was suspended indefinitely by the team.
Now, Maliksi believes the issue is a thing of the past; he has apologized, learned his lesson, and earned a spot in the regular rotation by doubling his effort. His career-high performance on Sunday night only re-affirmed that the relationship he has with his team is strong.
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“Yung issue before, parang biruan lang naman yun eh, wala akong mine-mean na gusto ipa-message sa coaches o management. Medyo na-frustrate rin ako, paano ko ba ie-earn yung minutes ko so tinrabaho ko talaga,” Maliksi shared.
“Yung nangyari, nasuspend ako for a week. Talagang nagsorry ako, it is a humbling experience. Dapat professional ako about it, and syempre coach siya, mahirap talaga magrotate, nagsorry na lang ako kasi mali ko yun eh.”
