BILLY Mamaril officially became a nurse only late last year, but he already put his knowledge to good use as early as 2020 during his last year in the PBA.
The San Miguel backup big man and the rest of his teammates were winding down from one practice at Acropolis Greens gym in Quezon City when a freak accident struck June Mar Fajardo after he went aggressive on defense to end the scrimmage on a high note.
“Naagawan niya ako ng bola tapos meron siyang clear path to the basket, ida-dunk na niya ata yun, tapos pag-plant niya ng paa niya, may gumanun talaga, may pumutok,” Mamaril recalled on SPIN Zoom In. “Tapos pag tingin namin kay June Mar, may buto na na nakalabas sa leg niya.”
Juggling nursing school and being a pro hoops player then, Mamaril promptly acted as the first aid to the PBA’s only six-time MVP.
Nurse Billy Mamaril comes to the rescue
“Sabi ko, ‘Give space muna tayo,” Mamaril began. “’June Mar, wag mo nang tingnan’ kasi syempre baka ma-shock pa siya. Tapos ‘immobilize’, tapos split natin ng konti, takpan natin, baka ma-infectionan. O basta dyan ka lang June Mar, i-elevate mo yung paa mo ng konti para yung blood flow hindi mag-dugo masyado.’”
“My teammates naman kasi, alam na nila na nursing [student] na ako nun,” the Our Lady of Fatima Antipolo Nursing graduate, who passed the board exams last November.
After putting his skills to the test, Mamaril let his eventual fellow medical professionals do their work on Fajardo.
“Pagkadating naman ng ambulance nun, wala na, sila na bahala nun. Trabaho na nila yun,” Mamaril said. “All you have to do there is get out of the way. That was the easiest work. Let the professionals work.”
Fajardo was eventually diagnosed with a fractured tibia that kept him out for a season.
But at least Mamaril was initially there to soften the blow as his superstar teammate suffered the worst injury of his career.
“Iba din yung feeling na nakakaalaga ka especially when they’re in their most vulnerable. To be able to care and sympathize with them is something I don’t think money can put a price on,” the former PBA enforcer beamed.
WATCH the full SPIN Zoom In episode with Billy Mamaril below.
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