MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga’s frontline in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup finals suffered a huge blow with Bacolodnon center Justin Chua suffering a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Tropang Giga head coach Jojo Lastimosa confirmed the injury of the former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, which he sustained during the opening minutes of Game 1 of the series against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings last Sunday.
Lastimosa admitted that Chua’s absence was a huge blow for the Tropang Giga but he is ready to roll the dice with his small ball behind Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana, Glenn Khobuntin, Roger Pogoy and Mikey Williams.
“We are ready to play with our small lineup with Calvin at the four and Glenn at the three. That is the lineup where (Ginebra head coach) Tim (Cone) will have a problem with,” Lastimosa said after their 95-82 Game 2 win on Wednesday night.
Lastimosa added that the impending return of veteran center Kelly Williams is a welcome for his team but he plans to integrate him slowly in the rotation as he just recovered from an injury.
“I still have a big lineup and let’s see how it goes,” Lastimosa said. “Kelly Williams will be cleared to play (in Game 3) on Friday but we don’t know how much we will be getting from him.”
Chua, for his part, said that he was frustrated with his knee injury as he was very much excited to help the Tropang Giga against the towering frontline of the Gin Kings in the finals.
“I really wanted to help the team, especially because I was off to a good start. I scored, I rebounded and then I was able to block a shot early in Game 1. So I felt it was a perfect start,” Chua said.
“It’s just frustrating that this happened to me—of all times—in the Finals,” added the former Trinity Christian School-Bacolod standout. I’ve had an ACL (tear) before and that feels different. This one, I could still walk.”
Chua, who suffered his first ACL tear in 2015 while he was still with the Blue Eagles, is expected to go under the knife today and is expected to be out of action for at least nine months./PN
