OUT TO RECAPTURE LOFTY PERCH
Starting the conference flat in their first game against GlobalPort, all the Purefoods wanted was to have a better outing in their game against Alaska.
And on Tuesday, Alex Mallari heeded coach Tim Cone’s call, doing it all for the Hotshots and finishing with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block to help Purefoods rout Alaska, 108-88.
“I found my openings and got a little lucky,” Mallari said. “We just wanted to come out with energy. We know we came out flat to start the conference and we better put some wins so we just wanted to pick up the energy.”
Purefoods stayed unscathed in their first pair of games despite parading undersized import Marqus Blakely, as well as missing the services of Yousef Taha, who served his two-game suspension for a preseason fracas.
But Mallari said that it was the fortitude of the squad which helped them remain undefeated so far in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“It doesn’t matter who’s playing and who’s not. We can put in anybody and we’re supposed to get the same results, so to us, it doesn’t really matter. We’re 2-0,” he said.
Mallari also divulged the mentality of the Hotshots this season, as they eye the next best thing after seeing their four-conference reign come to a screeching halt in the Philippine Cup.
“We’re very motivated. They’re not even talking about us anymore. We take it personal,” he said. “We didn’t get to the top last conference but that doesn’t mean that we’re still the same team now. We still have pretty much the same core. If they overlook us, then that’s better for us.” (RL)
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