SAN BEDA finally caught a break from the injury bug as sophomore Jimmy Reyes was spared from a worst-case scenario in their 65-62 win over Jose Rizal University.
Reyes went down at the 7:11 mark in the fourth quarter after bumping heads with teammate JC Bonzalida and hitting his head a second time on the hardwood after. He remained on the floor for another four minutes before being stretchered and rushed to a nearby hospital.
Fortunately for the Red Lions, though, the 24-year-old was cleared of a concussion.
READ: San Beda gets act together just in time to survive JRU comeback
“All clear [yung] CT scan,” head coach Yuri Escueta told SPIN.ph over the weekend. “Under observation siya for the next 3 days.”
Escueta also revealed that Reyes was sent home by the doctor in the same night, which was a positive sign for Escueta and the Red Lions who won’t play until Thursday against Mapua.
Backups got it under control
Even though San Beda nearly succumbed to an injury scare to the position that undoubtedly took the most hits among its depth chart all year long, at this point, Escueta’s boys have not only adjusted, but even learned to thrive in the face of uncertainty.
“But now we have to be able to get healthy,” Escueta said as they gear up for the last three games of eliminations. “Winning time na ‘to, labanan ng palakasan ng katawan at puso.”
Regardless if Reyes will be cleared to try his luck at getting back at the Cardinals, the four-year shotcaller still hangs his hat on the team's toughness and longevity, which he was proud to say they maintained since their title run last season.
“I think same as last year, in terms of strength and conditioning, we're peaking at the right time. Mahirap yung early in the season kundisyon na kami tapos bababa, but now, tuloy-tuloy pa rin naman kami,” he explained.
And of course, along with that comes his belief that his point guards are more than capable of holding it down as Reyes continues his rest and recovery.
“I told them in the dugout before the game that I believe in all of them. I believe that Kyle [Jamora] played well today I believe in Penny [Estacio], And Dom [Sarigumba] is also there," Escueta said.
“We have guards that can step up for Jimmy's spot, and this is just our belief in one another and our confidence in one another. Andito kami para support that whoever.”
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