HIGH LEAPING UST swingman Allein Maliksi reigned as the new “sultan of the slam” in the dunk contest side event of the UAAP-NCAA All-Star Games at the San Juan Arena last November 14.
The 6-foot-3 former University of Manila slinger and Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2009 Millennium Basketball League collected 46 points from the judges and was the only contestant who pulled off a thrilling jam in a single try.
Maliksi threw the ball from the left wing, drove baseline, and completed a reversed, 180-degree one-hander that sent the big San Juan crowd in a frenzy. He outslammed University of the East’s Kenneth Acibar, Jose Rizal University’s (JRU) Derrick Lopez, San Sebastian College’s Ronald Pascual, Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Russel Escoto, and Adamson University’s John Repique.
“At first, he did not want to join. He said he was not in the condition for the exhibition, but he still pulled it off,” teammate Dylan Ababou said.
Sophomore point guard Jeric Fortuna represented UST in the three-point shootout, but it was JRU’s John Wilson who prevailed after sniping a marginal 19-point total, compared to Fortuna’s 10.
Ababou, the reigning UAAP MVP, made his third appearance in the all-star showdown, scoring seven points in 13 minutes, just a shy behind FEU stalwart Reil Cervantes and co-Smart Gilas mainstay Rabeh Al-Hussaini who chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.
“I’m so happy and fulfilled to be one of the chosen few,” Ababou said. “It was a great chance to get to know the other players and we were united although we came from different teams.”
The UAAP selection bowed down to the NCAA squad in both the seniors (60-76) and juniors division (84-85) in the charity match organized for the benefit of Bantay Bata 163.
In the juniors play, starter Kyle Neypes scored 17 points for the UAAP-All Stars while his teammate Jezreel Jimenez added two points.
