BINAN, LAGUNA - Mike Madanly was like an assassin who came out of nowhere and hit Barangay Ginebra with one dagger three after another in TNT Katropa's rousing 104-92 win in the PBA Governors Cup.
Madanly later shrugged off his performance.
"This is part of my job. I have to make those shots that's why I''m here," said the Texters' Asian import after the team formally claimed the top seeding entering the playoffs..
The former Syrian national team member finished with 18 points highlighted by a 4 of 8 shooting from three-point range. He had 11 points in the third period alone, nine of them coming from beyond the arc when TNT began to pull away.
The Texters finished the elimination round with a league-best 10-1 record and showed why they're the top team in the season-ending tournament by keeping at bay a rallying Ginebra five heavily cheered on by a partisan crowd at the Alonte Sports Center.
[See TNT shows who's No. 1]
Madanly said he was hardly bothered by the pro-Ginebra crowd.
He actually thrives in the electric atmosphere.
"I like that. I like playing against a team with a lot of fans," the veteran international player said. "It reminds me of back home when we play against teams with big crowds.
"I like that because they make the game more fun. I wish every game would be like this. We'll give them a good show and everybody will enjoy the show."
As rousing as the victory was, Madanly said there's little time for the Texters to celebrate, with the playoffs about to begin by next week.
"We should put everything behind us. The eliminations are over, its now in the past," he said. "Now we have a new mission."
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