LARRY Fonacier has been a pillar of strength for NLEX in the PBA Governors Cup.
And to think the veteran wingman has yet to fully recover from a bruised rib and collapsed lung that kept him out for most of the last Commissioner’s Cup .
Three games into the season-ending tournament, Fonacier has emerged as the leader of a Road Warriors side that is playing without its head coach and three key players.
Fonacier averaged 11.3 points to lead the team in scoring and a 2-1 record in the absence of coach Yeng Guiao and big man Asi Taulava as well as backcourts stars Kevin Alas and Kiefer Ravena.
The former Ateneo forward said he has yet to hit full strength and credits his teammates and coaching staff for making him ‘look good’ inside the court.
“My teammates and coaches dinadala nila ako, and nakakasama lang ako sa flow kaya nagmumukha siyang maganda pero struggle talaga siya,” said Fonacier.
He went down with the injury during the Commissioner’s Cup eliminations in Legazpi City following an accidental mid-air collision with Barangay Ginebra’s Jervy Cruz.
“Nakalaro pa ako, kaya akala ko bruised lang. And then nung end ng third quarter parang nahirapan na akong huminga, kaya sabi ko baka iba na ito,” he said, recalling the incident. “And then I went straight to the dugout, yun pala meron nang tama na masama.”
Fonacier spent almost a week in the hospital and had to rest for a while, forcing him to miss the rest of the mid-season conference.
“Wala ng masyadong masakit sa ribs ko. Ok na ako, conditioning na lang talaga,” Fonacier said, noting he last suited up for the Road Warriors last June 9.
“Hindi ganun kadali. I’m still struggling with a lot of things. Nag-practice na lang ako mga two weeks before the opening (of Governors Cup),” stressed the 36-year-old NLEX forward.
As he continues on the road to recovery, Fonacier hopes the same thing for the Road Warriors, who failed to make the playoffs last conference after limping home to a 2-9 record.
“Hindi natin alam pa, basta right now enjoy lang muna especially with the momentum we’re able to build,” he said.
“Basta we keep on reminding each other to trust the game plan and remain humble. Wala pa naman kaming na-prove. Maaga pa yung conference.’
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