Maliksi’s hard work rewarded with career game

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It’s always been said hard work will take anyone some place good, and Allein Maliksi is a strong believer of that.

Maliksi exploded for a career-best 29 points and in the process made 6-of-6 from the three-point area to tie a PBA record.

His secret? Good old-fashioned hard work.

“Offensive end, I really worked hard during practice. Everyday, I practice my shooting, my dribbling. Everything to improve myself,” Maliksi said Sunday after Star trumped Talk N’ Text 96-88. “Eventually, my hard work paid off.”

“Every game I challenge myself if I can I beat my previous game,” added Maliksi, who was named PBA Press Corps Player of the Week.

With a new import in tow, the Hotshots had to improvise with Ricardo Ratliffe replacing a familiar piece in Denzel Bowles, who was part of the Grand Slam team.

That improvisation involved Maliksi getting open and letting loose from deep.

“We have a new import. Chemistry-wise and offensively he’s not yet familiar with what we’re doing so we focused on defense,” the former University of Santo Tomas forward said.