THE departure of Cliff Hodge to a knee injury put a dampener on Meralco’s 92-90 win over Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday night.
Just as he was getting his groove back after missing the first four games of the conference due to foot injury, the veteran power forward’s progress was derailed after hurting his knee in a collision with Phoenix counterpart Willy Wilson late in the third quarter.
“That’s completely different (injury) from what he’s been struggling with this entire conference, which is an ankle injury,” Bolts coach Norman Black said.
Hodge joined the Bolts’ growing injury list that also has Jared Dillinger (foot infection) Ranidel de Ocampo (calf).
Black couldn’t readily tell the status of Hodge.
“That (banging with Wilson) didn’t look too good. I have no idea at this point (of the severity),” Black said, saying Hodge was taken to Makati Medical Center after the game.
The injury overshadowed a solid night for Hodge, who pumped in 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting to go with three boards, three assists, two steals, and two blocks, and just one turnover in 22 minutes as a starter.
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