Lights-out shooting for Bolts in Game 2? Maliksi hopes so

After shooting bricks in Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Tuesday, Meralco forward Allein Maliksi, who went 0-of-5 from the field, has vowed to keep his finger on the trigger going to Game 2 against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

“Mga open shots naman halos lahat, hindi lang talaga pumapasok,” said Maliksi, 4 of whose misses came from beyond the arc. “Pero para sa akin, tuloy lang namin kung ano yung ginagawa namin, tira pa din kami outside.”

This is no time to be faint of heart, said Maliksi.

“May mga game talaga na you have an off-night… nangyari sa amin sa Game 1. Adjustment konti, confident pa din dapat sa tira. Hindi dapat na madown kami after that loss; importante na makabawi kami.”

Brought to Meralco via a trade with Blackwater during the elimination round, Maliksi actually played well for coach Norman Black during the semifinal series against TNT KaTropa. Against Ginebra, however, Maliksi lost his touch.

He wasn’t alone with cold hands that night for the Bolts who were 7 of 32 in 3s.

Chris Newsome collected 24 points but was 3-of-10 on his three-point attempts, while import Allen Durham, who led Meralco with 25 points, missed all his four attempts from trifecta.

Raymond Almazan, a 6-foot-9 center who developed his shooting abilities as a member of Rain or Shine, had a better shooting from the arc as he connected two on three tries, while the usually prolific shooters Baser Amer and rookie Bong Quinto shot a combined 2-of-10.

“We didn’t shoot the ball very well particularly from three-point land,” said Black. “Ginebra does a good job of clogging the paint defensively. They want you to shoot from the outside.”