NLEX rookie Brandon Ramirez suffered a dislocated jaw Wednesday night, but has already been cleared of any fracture following a checkup after the Road Warriors’ thrilling win over Barangay Ginebra, 89-86.
Ramirez went down with the injury after getting hit by Jamie Malonzo's open fist late in their PBA Philippine Cup game at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
READ Misfiring Xyrus Torres turns unlikely hero with clutch 3 for NLEX
The burly 6-foot-5 native of Lubao, Pampanga fell to the floor with his mouth agape following the contact at the 2:49 mark of the game and the score knotted at 81.
He had to be assisted back to the NLEX bench and never returned.
No foul was called on the play.
“Na-dislocate yung jaw niya. But the good thing is walang fracture,” said NLEX team governor Ronald Dulatre.
Until suffering the injury, Ramirez was going great guns scoring 11 points on 4-of-9 efficiency, while adding five rebounds and an assist.
He had six points in the third quarter when the Road Warriors went on a scoring rampage to build as much as a 17-point lead, 58-41.
Ramirez was immediately brought to the NLEX dugout and attended to by the team physician and physical therapist.
“Na-dislocate yung jaw niya pero ibinalik lang ng doctor namin sa dugout,” said a team insider of the rare injury incurred in a game.
For good measure, the second-round pick of the Road Warriors in the last draft had an X-ray done after the game and was cleared of any fracture.
“Yes, nakakasalita naman siya,” Dulatre added.
The win over the Kings was the fourth straight for the Road Warriors, who improved to a 4-1 record.
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.
