ILAGAN, Isabela – Meralco is keeping its fingers’ crossed that the injury suffered by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during its EASL game against Macau isn’t serious.
“We’re just praying his injury isn’t too serious and that he’ll recover for the next PBA conference since he’ll be playing for TNT and for us as well for our last game in the EASL,” said Meralco coach Nenad Vucinic.
“But he’s in a lot of pain now.”
The 30-year-old Hollis-Jefferson tweaked his ankle when he stepped on the foot of Macau import Sam Deguara midway in the third quarter of the game played before a huge weekend crowd at the Capital Arena.
READ: Meralco bucks RHJ injury to repel Macau in a thriller
The three-time PBA Best Import retreated to the dugout and never returned to the game, which the Bolts barely won, 93-91, after leading by as many as 20 points.
Team manager Paolo Trillo said Hollis-Jefferson couldn’t put a weight on the injured ankle and had to be assisted by Meralco personnel upon leaving the venue.
He’s set to undergo MRI test as soon as the team arrives in Manila.
Meralco was going great guns in the third period after kicking off the second half with a sizzling 13-0 run that stretched a seven-point lead at the break to 64-44 with six minutes left in the quarter.
That was until Hollis-Jefferson hurt his ankle and exited the game.
It was but the sign the Black Bears were waiting for, as they wasted no time to launch their grand comeback.
They only trailed by two in the final four seconds and were in possession of the ball for the final shot.
Unfortunately, Phoenix Shackelford threw an inbound pass too high even for 7-foot-6 Sam Deguara to receive, resulting into a turnover that preserved the win for Meralco.
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