Maliksi, Hotshots doubling efforts amid tight playoff race

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Star has found itself in a situation where one slip could prove fatal.

The Hotshots may look safe at 5-4, but considering the tight playoff race in the PBA Philippine Cup with only San Miguel being the lone team with a cushion, one loss could mean a playoff spot or a spectator’s seat.

The Hotshots would have to sweep their remaining two games if they want to avoid complications heading into the quarterfinals.

“If we lost this game we could end up falling in the standings, that’s why our target is to really win those remaining games,” said forward Allein Maliksi Wednesday at Cuneta Astrodome.

Star head coach Chito Victolero considered their game against Blackwater as the start of their playoff series to instill to the team that sense of urgency that they need to have in this stage of the conference.

And it seems Maliksi understood what his coach was been trying to convey as he put up a game-high 26 points, 22 coming in the middle quarters, on 10-of-17 shooting.

Maliksi’s efforts, though, are not just on the game venue as he worked on his own to polish the most basic of basketball moves—his jumpshot.

“I said that after our game against Alaska I would focus on the mechanics of my shooting form and hopefully I can regain my rhythm,” said Maliksi who shot 6-of-16 from the field against the Aces on Jan. 11.

Maliksi said he’s spent a little more time in the gym to improve his jumper and it seems those extra work has paid off as he shot a combined 15-of-26 or almost 58 percent from the field in the past two games.

And those two games resulted in wins for the Hotshots who are now just a win away from securing a quarterfinals berth, if they prevent a screw-up in their next two.