Aces eye share of lead
Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena) 4:15 p.m. – Alaska vs Blackwater 7 p.m. – Globalport vs Star
Before ghosts and goblins are unleashed on Halloween, the Beast prowls the land for another victim before nightfall today.
Facing the Blackwater Elite this afternoon, Calvin Abueva and the Alaska Aces track down the early leaders in the hope of forging a four-way logjam in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game time is at 4:15 p.m., with the Elite eyeing their first win and the Aces, losing finalists to San Miguel in this conference last season, looking to tie the Beermen, Rain or Shine and the NLEX Road Warriors on 2-0 slates.
The Star Hotshots with James Yap, meanwhile, seek to follow up their crushing victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last Sunday when they take on the Globalport Batang Pier at 7 p.m.
Alaska routed Talk ’N Text, 114-98, last Friday while Star, after blowing a double-digit advantage against Rain or Shine on opening day Wednesday, 9687, stunned Barangay Ginebra, 86-78, on Sunday, leading by as many as 31 points before coasting.
Nicknamed the Beast for his ferocious game, Abueva had 15 points and 5 rebounds against the Tropang Texters, sparking a first quarter comeback by the Aces along with FIBA 3x3 World Tour teammate Vic Manuel (22 pts. and 10 rebs.) and souring the debut of TNT’s ballyhooed rookies Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario.
Blackwater, on the other hand, dropped a close 90-86 debut to NLEX last Friday, while Globalport got mangled in Davao City by Jun Mar Fajardo and San Miguel, 97-86.
In a related development, the Star Hotshots have reportedly suspended “indefinitely” shooting guard Allein Maliksi over an Instagram post where he appeared to take issue over his diminished playing time under new coach Jason Webb in their first two games.
The suspension took effect the day after Star’s victory over Ginebra where Maliksi came off the bench for less than six minutes and was 1 of 4 from the field with one rebound, one assist and one turnover.
Webb was named to the job after Grand Slam mentor Tim Cone moved over to Ginebra during the off-season and drew praise from the first two veteran coaches he faced – Cone, who recruited him as an assistant last year, and Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao whose team Star played in the inaugural.
Reports said Maliksi, drafted 8th overall by Barako Bull in 2011 out of University of Santo Tomas, was told Webb himself will give him a call on when the sanction will be lifted. It is uncertain whether the suspension covers the Hotshots’ practice sessions.
Maliksi had earlier apologized to Webb as soon as the post went viral, with coach and player having a private conversation Wednesday.