Mike Harris admitted that he was on a ‘mission’ when Magnolia took on Alaska for its penultimate elimination round game in the PBA Governors’ Cup, Sunday.
But it’s not what you think. Sure, he was up against his former team, but the 38-year-old was out really to hush the critics and the naysayers alike.
“I was on a mission to try to show… you know, a couple of times has been said that I was too old and stuff,” said Harris, who’s been playing professionally since 2005.
“So, I did have some fire in me. But I didn’t want to talk about it.”
And there should be no doubt whatsoever that he accomplished his goal. Harris finished with 38 points and 10 rebounds just inside three quarters, leading the Hotshots to the masterful 118-91 rout of the Aces.
The former Best Import already manufactured 18 in the first quarter alone, 16 of which he made to power a fiery 21-6 start for the early breakaway.
He then scored 18 again in the third canto to turn the game into a one-sided affair after allowing the Aces to knock within just six in the previous period.
Harris shot 15-of-20 from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point distance. He also had two steals and a block in the 28 minutes and 38 seconds he played for an excellent performance that saw him commit just one turnover.
Photo by PBA Images
“I wanted to let my actions speak for my words,” said the American cager, whose previous conference-high scoring-wise was 34.
Head coach Chito Victolero was all praises once more for his import. “Wala akong masasabi sa import ko na to, talagang he’s a leader. Kumbaga nakakuha ako talaga ng talagang bagay na bagay sa team namin,” he said.
Harris, however, was prouder with the way the entire Magnolia played even if the game no longer had any bearing since it had secured the top seed.
“This game right here was great. With already being in the twice-to-beat, and being at the top, we could’ve easily just come out relaxed, lackadaisical, and gave Alaska an easy win,” he said.
“The guys came out with a sense of urgency.”
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