PBA IMAGES
Star import Malcolm Hill was a bystander during his NBA Summer League stint with Oklahoma City, but in his first PBA game the lanky swingman immediately became the talk of the town.
As the Hotshots tried to fend off the gutsy Alaska Aces, Hill took it upon himself to play savior and bring Star to a 101-92 victory for a 2-0 card in the Governors’ Cup.
“My job at [University of] Illinois was to be aggressive and take over the game, I want to carry that on the professional level,” said Hill. “Coach [Chito Victolero] told me that he wants me to be aggressive.”
And Hill did just that as he sunk back-to-back clutch baskets for Hotshots that effectively became the metaphorical haymakers the Aces absorbed.
First it was the jumper from the top of the key with 1:34 left in the clock to give Star a 97-91 lead then he did the same thing once more 23 seconds later to put the Hotshots up 99-91.
“Coach told me in the middle of the set, ‘Hill get the ball’ and he wanted me to shoot the shots and I did,” said Hill who finished with 28 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, and 11 boards.
And at 21-years-old, Hill is considered young within the PBA circle that usually gets rookies who are 22 or 23-years-old.
Hill, however, doesn’t see his age as a detrimental factor in his game and he’s also not surprised with the league’s physicality.
In his four years as a Fighting Illini, Hill accumulated 1,846 points, 647 rebounds, and 281 assists in a packed Big 10 conference.
University of Illinois shared the conference with powerhouses Indiana University, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, University of Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania State University.
Physicality is nothing new to Hill, he said.
“Players will think I’m soft because I’m young and fresh out of college,” said Hill. “I played in the Big 10 and I think it’s one of the best college leagues, the most physical, and the most defensive oriented, so the physicality doesn’t bother me.”