DON’T expect Aljon Mariano to suit up for Barangay Ginebra anytime in the remaining PBA season.
While the veteran guard has already recovered from an ankle injury that kept him out of action for the entire Season 48, Mariano said he hasn’t joined the Kings in practice yet.
Besides, the team has also not activated him for the playoffs, making him ineligible to play for Ginebra the rest of its Philippine Cup semifinals series against Meralco or beyond if the team makes it to the finals against San Miguel.
“Nakakatakbo na ako, nakakapag-skills na ako, pero hindi naman ako na-activate during the playoffs. So hindi na talaga ako makakalaro,” said Mariano.
“Deadline na yata before ng quarterfinals, kaya next season na (ako lalaro),” added the product of University of Santo Tomas about teams being prohibited to activate players in the middle of the playoffs.
It’s the reason why teams such as Rain or Shine and Meralco brought back to its active rosters the likes of Keith Datu and Raymar Jose just before the start of the quarterfinals.
An ankle injury forced Mariano to sit out the early part of the season, until he was relegated to the Unrestricted Free Agent List Rights to Salary (UFAWR2RS) last Nov. 30 to pave way for the return of veteran guard LA Tenorio to the active roster.
A few weeks later, he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his ankle.
“Nilinis siya last December, yung sa may likod and gilid ng ankle. Nire-rehab pa rin siya hanggang ngayon. Tuluy-tuloy lang ang recovery, strengthening,” he said.
“Ok naman na siya. OK na yung mobility niya kasi kulang siya ng mobility the last time. Pero ngayon, OK na.”
The 31-year-old forward religiously attends Ginebra practices even though he’s not been included in the active roster and doesn’t join the Kings in their scrimmages.
“I’m going to practices pero I’m shooting, skills lang by myself kasi hindi na rin ako sumasali sa kanila kasi hindi rin naman ako naglalaro,” he casually said.
He’s also present in all of Ginebra games despite getting a bit frustrated sometimes and feeling hapless just watching the team from the bench.
“Normal na emotion naman ng players yun na kahit normal game or playoffs, as much as possible, we want to be in the court playing. Siyempre ganun yun, e,” the 6-foot-3 Mariano pointed out.
“Pero total support pa rin sa team kung anuman ang maitutulong ko. Just yung presence lang na nanonood ng games, ok na yun,” he added.
The Kings are currently just one win away from reaching the all-Filipino finals as they led the Bolts, 3-2, in their semis series.
Game 6 is set Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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