Webb answers Maliksi's intriguing Instagram post
MANILA, Philippines — Star rookie coach Jason Webb admitted talking to forward Allein Maliksi following the former University of Santo Tomas wingman’s intriguing post at the popular social media platform Instagram on Tuesday.
Webb said every PBA player would want to play heavy minutes in a basketball game, but
the fact is, “someone’s gonna get less and others will get more (playing time).”
“There’s only 240 minutes of game time if you look at it. Most players feel they can play a lot of minutes but I think we’re able to take care of the minutes of the guys,” Webb told Philstar.com, shortly after the team’s Tuesday afternoon practice.
Maliksi’s intriguing post at Instagram showed a collage of images with messages centering on “a desire to be happy.”
Basketball fans, who followed the former PBA D-League Most Valuable Player, felt the post was a hint that Maliksi was no longer happy with the Hotshots, especially after averaging a career-low 6.5 minutes in Star’s first two games this season.
Some of Maliksi’s followers reacted on the post, wishing that he stays with the Hotshots, while others, suggested he just goes back to his former team Barangay Ginebra.
The 42-year-old Webb said he did talk with the athletic Maliksi, but the freshman Star coach chose not to divulge the details.
“Yeah (we did talk). It’s (Maliksi’s playing minutes) down from the last conference, but we’re gonna keep those things (what they talked about) internally. We don’t wanna make it big,” reiterated the former television broadcast analyst-turned-coach.
“We’ve got rules and everything that we do will be done in a process.”
When asked if Maliksi will be traded, Webb’s response was, “no trades at the moment.”
Webb added that the superstar James Yap’s stellar game, particularly in the first of the team’s first two games was a big reason why Maliksi rode the bench longer than usual.
“One thing is, James is playing tremendous basketball, especially in the first half. I think James is averaging 16 points in the first half in the first two games, so again, there’s not enough minutes for everyone,” he added.
The 28-year-old Maliksi averaged just 2.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in the team’s first two outings in the Philippine Cup.
Maliksi, selected eighth overall by Barako Bull in the 2011 PBA Draft, has been with the Purefoods franchise since the 2013-2014 season.
Star currently carries a 1-1 win-loss record after bowing to Rain or Shine on opening night, 96-87, before bouncing back with an 86-78 triumph over Barangay Ginebra on Sunday.
The win marked Webb’s first as a head coach, while spoiling the coaching debut of Ginebra’s Tim Cone, the Hotshots’ former mentor.
- Latest
- Trending
