AS DeQuan Jones and Bryan Sajonia fell to major injuries one after the other, flashes of the past suddenly came rushing to Kevin Alas.
Bad memories, at that.
The NLEX guard can’t help but commiserate with both the Road Warriors import and the Titan Ultra rookie guard for the injuries they suffered in the same venue that has been a nightmare for him.
Thrice, the 34-year-old Alas went down with an ACL injury. And thrice, he all sustained it while playing at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Coincidental or not, it was difficult for Alas to see Jones and Sajonia going through the same agony that had befallen his career.
“Ang bigat sa pakiramdam,” he said. “It’s sad kasi it’s the same venue where na-ACL ako three times.”
READ: NLEX import Dequan Jones has suffered a 'Paul George-type injury'
He admitted those excruciating experiences he went through suddenly flashed back from his memory bank, especially upon personally seeing Jones breaking his right fibula in the Road Warriors’ PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup game against defending champion TNT.
“Hindi ko na nga pinanood yung replay kasi nakita ko nga yung leg niya,” he said of the 36-year-old affable import.
Jones’ dislocated ankle has since been put back in place and is now awaiting surgery on the broken fibula once swelling subsides.
READ: Bryan Sajonia's rising PBA career set back by ACL, MCL, PCL tears
About 24 hours following the Jones incident, Sajonia also got injured on the very same spot where the NLEX import fell, as he twisted his left knee in a non-contact play while trying to drive past Marcio Lassiter during the Giant Risers' tussle with San Miguel.
The rookie guard and NCAA Finals MVP from San Beda was later diagnosed to have suffered an ACL and other knee injuries.
Come back stronger
Alas can only console with both Jones and Sajonia.
“I know it’s not easy going through that kasi ako na-ACL three times,” he said. “It’s really hard.”
“We don’t want those things to happen to anyone,” he added.
But like him, Alas knows both Jones and Sajonia will be able to recover, bounce back, and play once again the game they love most.
As the saying goes, no one can’t put good men down.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
