FOR Allein Maliksi, it’s as if his whole world had come crashing down.
The sophomore guard admitted being shattered upon hearing the news about the 10-player, five-team trade on Tuesday that saw him moving to Barako Bull and leaving Barangay Ginebra - a team which he admits is so dear to him.
“It’s like I’ve lost one of my dreams,” said Maliksi moments after being informed of the pre-Commissioner’s Cup trade.
The move came at a time when the Kings also had a new coach at the helm in Alfrancis Chua, a fellow University of Santo Tomas alumnus of Maliksi just like his previous mentor Siot Tanquingcen.
“I’m already comfortable with my teammates and coaches, then all of a sudden nalipat ako,” he rued.
Maliksi, the first ever MVP of the PBA D-League, said the trade came as a total surprise to him.
“I was shocked. Wala kasing rumors or any signs na mate-trade ako,” he added.
Then again, Maliksi accepted the fact that trades are part of a pro player’s career, saying, “I don’t want to get traded talaga, but I don’t have control of it.”
Considered as one of the high-wire acts among the young players today, Maliksi’s two-year PBA career however, has been spoiled mostly by a nagging knee injury.
Suiting up for Barako Bull in the mid-season conference meant going back to where it started for Maliksi. The 25-year-old guard after all, was selected by the franchise eight overall in the 2011 draft.
And he vows to play much better in his second coming with the Energy Cola.
“I’ll take this as a challenge and prove something as a player,” said Maliksi. “I need to be better. Maybe that’s why this happens.”
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