Maliksi vows to help Meralco

ALLEIN Maliksi hopes to end his five-year title drought.

After bouncing around the league, Allein Maliksi finally found a home with Meralco, which he helped to get back to the finals.

And the former University of Santo Tomas standout vows to maximize the opportunity to end his personal title-drought.

Maliksi and the Bolts are in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup finals against Barangay Ginebra in a best-of-seven affair that starts on 7 January.

“After so many years, I am thankful that I am here again at this point,” said the six-foot-four lanky forward after Meralco finished off TNT KaTropa, 89-78, in their do-or-die Game 5 semifinal duel.

“My last championship was in 2014 with the San Mig Coffee (now Magnolia) where we won the grandslam,” he added.

Curiously, Maliksi’s last title was with now Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone and since then, the crown has been elusive for the rugged forward.

After getting drafted by the defunct Barako Bull eighth overall in 2011, Maliksi has bounced around the league including stints with Ginebra, Magnolia and Blackwater.

Last October, Maliksi and Reymar Jose were traded by the Elite to the Bolts for Mike Tolomia, Nino Canaleta and two future second round picks.

The 32-year old forward said those stops with other teams made him a better player now.

“Maybe there is really a purpose why I have been joining a lot of teams now,” Maliksi said.

“I am not getting younger anymore and all I want to do is cherish every moment and just give everything in my capability,” he added.

And that’s one of his motivations going to the championship series against the crowd-favorite Ginebra, which beat them twice in the finals.

“Now that we’re here, we wanted to get back at Ginebra, which beat Meralco two times in the finals (2016 and 2017 Governors’ Cup),” Maliksi said.