Former UST Tiger Allein Maliksi. INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Meralco forward Allein Maliksi recounted his experience during his collegiate days with University of Santo Tomas amid the controversy surrounding the current Tigers’ basketball team.
In a Facebook post, Maliksi shared what they usually had for “recovery meal” after Tigers’ practice—the university staple of “siomai rice” or sometimes bland adobo.
Maliksi posted his sentiments after the beleaguered former Growling Tiger CJ Cansino revealed the team’s struggles in the alleged “Sorsogon bubble” including what was described—in a series of messages in a group chat—as poor quality of food.
“A scholarship and the opportunity to play was all we needed. If we had that then we’re all good,” wrote Maliksi in Filipino Thursday. “Our recovery meal back then was siomai rice or if you want maybe a footlong hotdog with lots of gravy.”
“Sometimes adobo that’s as bland as sinigang (sour pork soup) with drops of sweat from Mariong Pilay.”
Maliksi, who suffered knee injuries in his time with UST but became the PBA D-League’s first MVP, added that the dormitory that his team and other varsity clubs stayed in didn’t have air conditioning, forcing them to live with the “air pollution” from España boulevard.
They also didn’t have utility workers to tend for their needs and that they, he said, would be the ones to take out the trash and clean their communal restrooms.
“As long as we can play and graduate then we’re good,” said Maliksi who played under Pido Jarencio. “Our coach cursed at us, slapped us, pounded our heads, sometimes it was a combo.”
“We learned from all of that, a lot actually, and I was able to reach my PBA dream. It’s nothing, I’m just sharing. It was a great and fun experience for me.”