By REYNALD MAGALLON
Meralco’s Allein Maliksi believes a title for the Bolts in the Philippine Cup will be better for the PBA as it would change the narrative that the league is only dominated by the few teams.
No stranger to the notion that the PBA title was only battled between the powerhouse teams, especially with the three SMC teams in San Miguel, Barangay Ginebra and sister team TNT taking turns in raising the trophy in the past eight years.
“I think it will be good for Philippine basketball na Meralco naman makapag-champion this time,” said the veteran gunner on Monday, June 3 at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas during the PBA Finals press conference.
Asked to expound about his statement, Maliksi said a title for Meralco would debunk fan theories about the league being scripted and easily predictable.
“Most of the PBA fans, they think na parang scripted ‘yung PBA or they think na parang ‘alam na namin ‘yung magiging result eh,” said Maliksi.
“I think if Meralco wins, it will bring back the interest of the fans, na kaya palang manalo ng ibang teams. ‘Yun lang ‘yung dapat naming patunayan sa mga fans na hindi naman kami nandito lang to play, we are also competing for the championship. We’re not just trying to survive, gusto rin naming manalo,” he added.
The last team to win the title outside the four powerhouses was Rain or Shine in 2016. The next 17 titles were shared among the four with SMB and Ginebra taking the most with seven titles apiece while TNT had two and Magnolia with one
Maliksi knew full well that the title won’t be easily given to the Bolts and that they have to earn it against the most dominant team in the conference in San Miguel.
“Very dominated ng San Miguel ‘yung All-Filipino talaga then Ginebra naman ‘pag may import,” Maliksi pointed out.
“Ito naman another opportunity for me and my teammates na makakuha kami ng championship for the first time sa franchise. Kailangan lang namin i-earn kasi nothing will be given to us. We need to get it because San Miguel also wants it,” he stressed.
