MANILA – The Phoenix Fuel Masters’ campaign in the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association Cup was dealt with a huge blow before even it started. Its veteran centers went down with injuries.
Playing sans forward Calvin Abueva due to suspension, the Fuel Masters will tipoff its campaign in the season opening conference on March 8 minus centers Elvin Jake Pascual and Dave Marcelo.
Pascual, who was acquired from the Alaska Aces during the offseason in exchange of a future second round pick, suffered a career-threatening Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury that ruled him out already of the Philippine Cup.
Marcelo, on the other hand, went to the Fuel Masters last year via a trade from the NLEX Road Warriors. He recently underwent surgery to remove bone spurs on his foot.
With the absence of the two, the Fuel Masters’ frontline has become thinner than a wire with Bacolod Justin Chua, Jay-R Reyes, Jayson Perkins, Davon Potts and JC Intal.
They also have yet to reach an agreement with veteran guard Solomon Mercado, of which they acquired from the NorthPort Batang Pier in swap for Bacolodnon LA Revilla and Rey Guevarra.
Phoenix is the latest team to suffer from a major frontcourt casualty prior to the All-Filipino Conference after the five-time champion San Miguel Beermen with June Mar Fajardo and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel King’s Gregory Slaughter./PN
