SAN Miguel Beer management's patience is getting tested by the slow recovery of Chris Lutz from injuries.
Lutz has been sidelined since May due to hip and back injuries, hardly seeing action in the last PBA Commissioner’s Cup where he played hurt before missing the entire Governors’ Cup.
SMB governor Robert Non said the 31-year-old Fil-American wingman still has no timetable for a return.
“Up to now, wala pang (update),” Non said in a short chat with SPIN.ph after the media launch of the league’s 42nd season.
“Sabi niya slowly progressing. Ang hirap nung ‘slowly progressing,’ meaning halos walang nangyayari,” he added. “Halos isang taon na yung injury na yun eh.”
[See Lutz still one of PBA's best guards, only needs to get confidence back, says Toroman]
Non fears Lutz, who had undergone therapy in the US, the costs of which SMB management has shouldered, could be out for even longer.
“Baka another year na naman yan. Hindi natin alam,” Non said. “Siguro pag dating niya dito, we will know exactly.”
Still, there seems to be hope as SMB included the Filipino-American Lutz in its opening-day lineup for the Philippine Cup as a reserve.
Non, however, is not too optimistic.
“Kung makakabalik man siya, hindi naman siya ganun kabilis makaka-recover,” Non, the former league chairman, said of the 2011 third overall pick.
“Marami pang gagawin yan to get into basketball shape. Mahirap yun, coming from a long layoff of one year. talagang magle-labor siya sa pagbalik, so sana maayos.”
[See Rookie McCarthy set to sign SMB contract, says Non]