[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’No Pingris in entire semis likely – Magnolia coach’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
Monday, March 12, 2018
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
MANILA – Star forward Marc Pingris may nurse a knee injury for weeks and could be out the entire semifinals as Magnolia Hotshots try to put down NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Philippine Cup, their coach said.
Pingris grimaced in pain midway in the third quarter of Hotshots game against Road Warriors on Saturday evening as he tried to evade the defense of JR Quiñahan. Magnolia lost 87-88.
Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero yesterday said the veteran forward could be out in the entire semifinals series with an apparent MCL sprain, which will require two to three weeks of rest.
“It looks like an MCL sprain,” Victolero. “(Monday) pa malalaman iyong result ng MRI niya. Hopefully ganoon lang. We pray na huwag nang ACL, kasi mas mahabang gamutan iyon.”
Also in danger of not playing for Hotshots is guard Justin Melton, who pulled his hamstring in the series opener. But Victolero said the Filipino-American guard might return midway in the semis.
Players and coaches from separate camps set aside their rivalry and expressed concern for Pingris.
Road Warriors head coach Yeng Guiao and players Kiefer Ravena and Alex Mallari wished for the speedy recovery of the Pangasinan native.
“What happened to Ping is very unfortunate,” Guiao said. “But those things happen especially in the playoffs. When games are hard and physical, those things can happen, and we hope he’s OK.”
“Pinagdasal ko lang si Ping. Kuya Ping is a very big part of my career,” said Ravena, who rushed to Pingris at the ambulance after the match. “It’s always sad to see a player go down like that. Hopefully he gets better.”
“My prayers are up for him,” said Mallari, who had played with Pingris before in the Grand Slam-winning team San Mig Coffee Mixers. “You hate seeing that to anybody, let alone Ping who’s such a great guy, great teammate.”
Meanwhile Paul Lee and Peter June Simon hope to use the injury of their teammate as motivation to bounce back in Game 2 of the series tonight at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“Si Kuya Ping isa rin sa core ng team namin iyon. Sobrang importante siya para sa’min. Nakakalungkot lang,” Lee said. “Ready lang kami. Kinausap naman ni coach iyong ibang players na mag-ready at paghahandaan talaga namin.”
“I hope na hindi naman ganoon ka sama,” said Simon. “Kahit ano’ng motivation, lahat ng motivation siguro kailangan gamitin na namin kasi sobrang hungry na rin kami makarating ng Finals ulit.”/PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
