A PLAYER who usually plays even through pain, Cliff Hodge missed Wednesday’s game in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup against Converge due to back spasms.
The last time Hodge didn’t suit up for Meralco was nearly two years ago when he was out against Bay Area Dragons last November 4, 2022.
Hodge said he remains unsure of when he will return, saying there is also a chance that he could be out in Meralco’s next game against Magnolia to be held on Saturday in Panabo City.
“I’m day-to-day now,” said Hodge.
“I’ve been dealing with back spasms since the last game. I’m hoping that I would be back. Maybe not this trip coming up, maybe I can, I don’t know. I’ll figure out by tomorrow. But maybe by Talk ‘N Text would be nice. So I’m day-by-day right now.”
The TNT game Hodge is referring will be on September 12, five days after the out-of-town game against Magnolia.
Hodge said he already felt the pain in Meralco’s last outing against NorthPort last Sunday where he played for only seven minutes.
“It was really painful. I can’t really move the last few days. But the good thing is it’s not a disc issue so it’s all muscles. It’s just a lot of rest which I don’t like to do,” said Hodge.
“It’s okay. If I can play, I would because that’s just my mentality is. But I know that I can take a game off or two because I know my team is already prepared to do what it takes to win,” he added.
Hodge isn’t the only player out for Meralco as it also missed the services of Allein Maliksi, Raymond Almazan, and Aaron Black. Despite their absence, the Bolts walloped Converge, 116-88, with Anjo Caram and Alvin Pasaol helping out in the win.
“I’m glad that the team came out, we played hard. We knew it’s going to be tough match-up against Converge, but the guys came out and played really well today."
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.
