RAIN or Shine is optimistic that Luis Villegas will finally be playing at full fitness with the Elasto Painters in the coming PBA 50th Season.
Villegas was selected No. 3 in the Season 48 draft, but sat out the entire season due to an ACL injury. He played eight games in the 49th Season Governors’ Cup but the 6-foot-8 big missed the rest of the year as his knee was reconstructed to resolve a lingering issue.
The University of the East alum averaged 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in those eight games with the Elasto Painters during the Governors’ Cup.
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“I think maihahabol natin si Luis Villegas,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. “We’ve been waiting for him a long time. Maybe this time, mangyari na rin ‘yung makapaglaro siya at a hundred percent. That’s one of the things that we’re looking forward to.”
Villegas would be a huge boost to the Rain or Shine frontline that is undersized with him not around for last season.
Belga, Lemetti return
Also in line to be healthier for the coming season is Beau Belga and Felix Lemetti.
Belga had a bout of vertigo and astigmatism during the 49th Season Philippine Cup that kept him out of the team’s playoff run.
Lemetti also missed the later part of the season due to a fractured hand.
“Ayos na rin siya (Lemetti). And then si Beau naman, he looks okay. He is practicing everyday. We are looking forward to having him,” said Guiao.
Most of the players of Rain or Shine has been practicing since August 11 in preparation for the 50th Season Philippine Cup, with newly-signed Stanley Pringle to arrive in the first week of September as his wife is about to give birth in the US.
“We are looking at at least ‘yung performance namin ‘yung semifinals, maulit sana ‘yung semifinals and at the same time, kung kaya na mas malayo,” said Guiao, referring to Rain or Shine reaching the semifinals in all three conferences last season - losing each time to TNT.
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