THE injury couldn’t have come at a worse time – and age – for veteran guard Biboy Ravanes.
Ravanes was listed as part of the San Miguel legends for the ‘Return of Rivals’ benefit game, but showed up at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday in uniform and in crutches.
It turned out he suffered a torn Achilles right in the Beermen oldies' first practice for the one-day exhibition match.
"Kasimula pa lang ng practice namin. Pag rebound ko akala ko may natapakan ako. Yun pala napunit na siya (Achilles). Hindi na ako nakatayo," he recalled the incident to SPIN.ph.
Ravanes, who wore a protective boots on his injured left leg, is the most veteran in San Miguel’s 17-man lineup at 60 years old. He played for the team from 1980-85 and then returned for the last three playing years of his career from 1992 to 94 before finally retiring.
San Miguel was matched against rival Alaska in the special doubleheader organized by the Samahan ng mga Dating Propesyonal na Basketbolista ng Pilipinas Foundation Inc. in partnership with UNTV.
A three-time member of the league’s All-Defensive team, Ravanes has been one of the longest-serving assistant coaches of the Beermen.
He was supposed to undergo operation in his left leg but deferred it shortly after the beneficiary game.
If ever he'll be the first to benefit from the revenue earned out of the double exhibition matches.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph