Maliksi on shock trade: "Nakakaiyak"

PBA
By Ivan Saldajeno

ANTIPOLO--Allein Maliksi admitted to some reporters on Sunday night that he was saddened when he was informed that he will be traded to Blackwater from Star.


"Nakakaiyak talaga na malipat ako. It's been four years na. Family na yung turing namin sa isa't isa. May separation anxiety rin," said Maliksi.

But just like any other professional basketball player, he knows that it is part of his career.

"Pinipigilan ko[ng umiyak]. Kino-comfort ako ng girlfriend ko na kailangan kong mag-move on: 'May plano si God na much better para sa iyo,'" continued Maliksi.

The trade indeed turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Maliksi still ended up in a team that will make the PBA Governors' Cup playoffs with the Elite clinching a quarterfinal spot--and even helping the Hotshots clinch one too--through a 118-107 win over the now also-ran GlobalPort Batang Pier at the Ynares Center.


Maliksi put up impressive numbers in his Blackwater debut, leading the team with 22 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 34-and-a-half minutes of play.

However, he insisted that it was not a statement to Star.

"I don't want to take it personally. Yung team pa rin ang priority, hindi yung individual stats," Maliksi further said.

After four fruitful seasons with the Hotshots that saw him winning four titles which includes the fact that "part ako ng history" of the 2014 grand slam, Maliksi is now ready to become the Elite's new leader.

"Confident naman ako sa lineup namin. Kailangan lang may mag-lead sa kanila," he quipped.

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