LOOKING for a bounce-back win against TNT in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series, Meralco is contemplating on reactivating Allein Maliksi, who missed most of last season due to injury but may now be ready to jump back into the fray.
The Bolts need all the available help and coach Luigi Trillo thinks Maliksi may provide one as the team prepares for its Wednesday encounter with TNT hoping for a much-needed win to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole in their best-of-seven series.
Game 2 is at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ Trillo rues 47-19 TNT edge in free throws, inconsistent officiating
In three games so far in the post-elimination play, Maliksi has all been DNP (Did Not Play), including in Game 1 of the semis, which the Bolts lost, 100-95, after blowing a 21-point, first-half lead.
Trillo said with still "a lot of basketball to be played," chances of the 38-year-old Maliksi finally playing is possible.
“I expect Allein to be ready in the next one, and his number might be called,” the Meralco head coach said.
Maliksi is almost two seasons removed from Meralco's breakthrough PBA championship when it beat San Miguel Beer for the Philippine Cup crown in Season 48 where he played a major role.
But surgery to remove bone spurs on his knee and a bad case of sciatica shut him down for almost the entire Season 49 before finally being cleared to play in the PBA’s golden year.
Maliksi however, hadn’t been able to see action for much of the season-opening conference, and hasn’t left the bench since the start of the playoffs.
Trillo said it’s a coaching decision not to field in Maliksi at the moment because "some guys are also playing well."
Indeed, the Bolts have been getting major contributions from sophomore CJ Cansino and veteran Jansen Rios in the playoffs, with Cansino even leading the team in scoring with an average of 18.07 points.
But Trillo wants more scoring from his team and Maliksi might be the answer to TNT's edge in depth after adding Jio Jalalon, Kevin Ferrer, and Tyrus Hill this season.
“He’s been under a lot of injuries, but he’s one guy we can trust,” said the Meralco coach of Maliksi, who is averaging 3.9 points and 1.6 assists in the conference.
“Everyone has to be ready,” he said, and that includes Maliksi.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
