Games Tomorrow
(Cuneta Astrodome)
4:15 p.m. – Mahindra vs NLEX
7 p.m. – Phoenix vs Alaska
Maliksi fires 26 points, 5 treys against Elite.
Allein Maliksi finally got the redemption he had longed for exactly two weeks and led the inspired Star Hotshots past the Blackwater Elite, 111-95, yesterday to boost their quarterfinals bid in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
It would be recalled that Maliksi became the goat of the Hotshots’ 97-90 loss to the Alaska Aces last Jan. 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum when he missed his last five shots in regulation and the extra session.
But last night, the former PBA D-League Most Valuable Player found his shooting rhythm as he fired 22 of his 26 points in the second and third periods that saw the Hotshots in control and eventually post their fifth win in nine games.
Maliksi, who shot 10-of-17 from the field, erupted for 10 in the second that allowed Star to take a 59-45 halftime lead, then scored 12 of the team’s 19 points in the third to scuttle Blackwater’s comeback attempt.
“Sabi ko after ng Alaska game, I need to be totally focused para maging better pa as a player,” Maliksi said. “Before and after practice, talagang trinabaho ko so kailangan ko ng focus, di lang shoot ng shoot. Dapat pala yung proper mechanics.”
Star forged a three-way share of fourth to sixth places with Alaska and Rain or Shine after back-to-back wins that began last Jan. 15 when Star frustrated TNT KaTropa, 90-77. In that game, Maliksi had 13 points in a prequel to last night’s shooting clinic.
“He’s very motivated and nachachallenge siya sa sarili niya,” described Star coach Chito Victolero. “Sabi niya ‘Coach, anytime titira niya yun, basta libre’ at may go-signal siya. At ngayon, pinakita niya na kaya niyang shumoot.”
Paul Lee finished with Maliksi started, firing 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter that gave the Hotshots their biggest lead at 21 points, 107-86.
Also delivering big numbers were Justin Melton (15 points), rookie guard Jio Jalalon (14) and Ian Sangalang (10 points and nine rebounds).
Art de la Cruz scored 23 points but the Elite ended their elimination round campaign with a 5-6 record, their playoff ambitions no longer in their hands.
Blackwater will play the role of spectator until the end of the elims next Wednesday, hoping that at least one team would end up with at least the same number of losses as the Elite to remain in playoff contention.
The Elite’s defeat formally gave the Phoenix Fuel Masters and the winner of the TNT-GlobalPort match being played at presstime the second and third quarterfinal berths with their 6-4 records.
Scores:
STAR 111 – Maliksi 26, Lee 15, Melton 15, Jalalon 14, Sangalang 10, Barroca 8, Ramos 7, De la Rosa 6, Pingris 5, Reavis 4, Brondial 1.
BLACKWATER 95 – De la Cruz 23, Pinto 13, Sumang 13, Aguilar 10, Buenafe 10, Sena 9, Belo 6, Miranda 5, Gamalinda 4, Cervantes 2, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 23-29; 59-45; 78-70; 111-95.