IMPORT Chris Charles failed to play for Blackwater in its debut game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup due to a left hamstring injury suffered during the Elite’s tune-up match against GlobalPort.
“Bale sa tune-up namin ng GlobalPort yun (Charles got injured). Pina-therapy naman siya pero wala pa, katulad kahapon (Tuesday), di siya nag-ensayo, nagsu-shooting lang siya,” Blackwater assistant coach Junjie Ablan told Spin.ph on Wednesday.
Ablan added that Charles tried to join the team’s shootaround on Wednesday just before the game against Barako Bull, but the 33-year-old American felt he will not be able to give his 100 percent performance on court.
“Nung warm-up nag-check uli kami pero masakit pa rin daw, kaya pinahinga na lang,” he added.
Blackwater coach Leo Isaac and big boss Dioceldo Sy have a few days to see how Charles' injury progesses before considering tapping a stand-in import.
Blackwater returns to action on Sunday against Talk ‘N Text in Binan, Laguna.
Charles is a back-to-back MVP in the ABL, where he averaged 20.5 points and 14.1 rebounds during Hi-Tech Bangkok’s run to the championship last season.
The Elite have yet to win a game in the PBA.