SAN Miguel Beer has raised a glimmer of hope, saying June Mar Fajardo could return to play a game in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Alaska.
SMB coach Leo Austria said they have already an advice from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Raul Canlas, who ruled out surgery.
“According to the doctor, he will be back in the series,” Austria said after SMB lost Game One on Sunday. “But I don’t know when dahil, understanding his situation, nandun yung swelling tapos mawawala at bumabalik, so that means there’s something wrong.”
“But they told me it’s not serious,” he added. There’s no need for any surgery.”
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Austria said the MRI result revealed the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and PCL (posterior) on the reigning league MVP’s left knee remained intact, although there was contusion.
But the injury seems mild enough that Canlas, Austria said, bared that Fajardo could return as early as Game Two on Tuesday.
“Actually he (Dr. Canlas) told me that let’s see if he can play on Tuesday,” Austria said. “And I told him that if he’s not one-hundred percent, I don’t want him to play because I don’t want to aggravate his injury. Maybe Friday, we’re hoping. But we don’t know yet.”
“Day-to-day basis ang mangyayari sa kanya,”added Austria, who talked with Fajardo on Sunday morning.
“He said he could hardly walk dahil he doesn’t want his knee na mag-swelling lalo, kasi syempre he wants to be back,” Austria recounted. “And I told him na don’t force it. What’s important for me is his health win or lose.”