PJ RAMOS isn't really sweating that much on the growing injury list for San Miguel Alab Pilipinas.
"This is part of it. We're not invincible," he said as the defending champions hacked out another tough 101-96 victory over Macau Black Bears on Friday in the 2019 ASEAN Basketball League.
Renaldo Balkman (concussion) and Lawrence Domingo (knee) may soon join Caelan Tiongson (ankle) and Brandon Rosser (knee) on the sidelines as the injury bug bit the Philippine side this late in the eliminations.
But for Ramos, those pains better occur now rather than later as he hopes to see his teammates heal up in time for the more important games in the playoffs.
"I think it's better that it happens now than in the playoffs. We still got a few weeks before the playoffs. We still got four games so those things better happen now so that they can be ready for the playoffs," he said.
Though players are going down here and there, Ramos is undeterred even though he's poised to take a bigger load for Alab for the homestretch of the eliminations.
"You know, I think we have to be smart right now," he said after firing 29 points and 13 rebounds in the win.
"I'm the most veteran player in our team right now so I got to show my young players that I'm here for them and I'm never gonna leave them. As long as we win the game, it's all worth it."
That's why Ramos isn't putting too much thought on the threat of being the lone reinforcement for Alab in its game against Formosa on Sunday, with the Dreamers still in the thick of the race for the top spot.
"I'm not worried about it," he said. "Like I said, I'm still gonna go out there and do my job, help my team win. This is part of it. Injuries happen everytime, but as soon as we get (our injured players) for the playoffs, we'll be straight."
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