IS Othyus Jeffers 100 percent healthy for the banging in the PBA?
This will be known when the former Robert Morris University stalwart plunges into practice with the Baranga Ginebra Kings for the first time on Tuesday afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Green Meadows Gym.
A source told Spin.ph that Jeffers has suffered a knee injury, which was why he was ostly out of the basketball loop since playing a lone game for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the 2014 Governors’ Cup.
[See Tim Cone taps Othyus Jeffers as Ginebra import]
In fact, a PBA coach who admitted taking an interest in Jeffers last season claimed that he aborted his plans of acquiring the 6-foot-4 banger because of the injury.
“Kukunin ko dapat last season 'yan eh. Kaso hindi naming tinuloy dahil may tama nga raw sa tuhod. I hope he’s okay now. Magaling yan,” said the coach who requested anonymity.
Jeffers arrived in the country at 4:20 a.m. on Monday on a Philippine Airlines flight from San Francisco and was personally welcomed at the airport by Ginebra mentor Tim Cone.
Asked to comment on the health status of Jeffers, Cone said, “You’ll have to ask me tomorrow after we see him practice. We just picked him up at the airport, won’t see him in practice until tomorrow (Tuesday).”
Meanwhile, a Ginebra insider admitted having received reports of Jeffers’ injury, but is wont to doubt the decision of Cone.
“May mga ganung report nga na nakarating sa amin, that he was injured kaya matagal ang layoff,” said the Ginebra insider. “But knowing coach Tim, napaka metikuloso nyan.
"Hindi 'yan basta-basta magpapapunta rito ng player kung alam niyang hindi 100 percent. Saka Tim made sure that he got a clean bill of healthy bago pinadalan ng offer sheet,” he added.
If he plays to his potential, Jeffers will be a very welcome addition to the Ginebra roster as he is a known banger with a soft touch from the perimeter - something the team lacked in the season-opening Philippine Cup.