LOOK who’s laughing now, says Henry Walker.
Back in the fold for Blackwater for the third time, the 30-year-old forward has made true to his promise, as evidenced by his side’s 2-0 start this 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup.
“You didn’t believe me last conference when I said we’re coming for the championship. Who’s laughing now?” he said after his side’s 103-100 stunner over powerhouse San Miguel on Wednesday.
Walker has been the catalyst in the Elite’s attack, racking up 35 points, 17 rebounds, seven steals, five assists, and a block.
But more than his numbers, what he takes pride in is how fluid Blackwater has been in the season-ending conference, especially with how his team crawled back from 10 points down entering the fourth frame. Walker owed that to the team’s offseason preparations in Indonesia and Macau.
“We got closer. We can identify with everybody more and we know that the only goal that we have is to win and that helps simplify a lot of things. It helps clear the air if we do have a situation or we go through something tough, we bond together instead of break apart,” said the well-travelled veteran.
Still, Walker knows that the Elite can’t rest on their laurels as they brace for tougher competition ahead, with the next wave coming 14 days from now when they take on NorthPort on September 19.
“We all want to be perfect, but we make mistakes and there's always stuff to look at on film. I know a couple of our defensive rotations we messed up, a couple times the backside of our defense wasn't active enough and guys like (Christian) Standhardinger getting in there and getting rebounds. That's something we got to fix,” he said.
“But all-in-all, we went out there. We were down by as many as 10 so I just figured four or five possessions, and we just said let's just go out there and play some solid defense and that's what we did.”
With Blackwater already taking down big fishes in TNT and San Miguel, Walker said expect more of those to come as his team is out to earn everyone’s respect this conference.
“I'm coming every game for the win and I don't go in games expecting to lose. I don't care who it is. And the thing about it, I don't go in games looking to hide and guard other players either. That's the thing we got going on in the PBA. If I guard you, you guard me. Let's go heads up, let's not run away and be scared, let's go heads up,” he said.
“That's what I come for – the challenge. I don't respect any import that don't want to get down that way. So that should tell you enough of me expecting big fish to fall every game.”
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