AS soon as Justin Brownlee dislocated his right thumb in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, one of the first persons to attend to the Barangay Ginebra import was the team’s head physical therapist Arcee Cua.
The low-key Cua is largely credited for working his magic on Brownlee, helping Ginebra's resident import play well enough to take the crowd favorites to the cusp of another PBA title while playing with an injury that will require surgery after the finals.
“Got to give credit to Arcee (Cua) and the training group, a huge thank you because they got him in a position when they can put a tape in and secure that thumb,” said Cone after Game 4 where Brownlee exploded for 23 points in a 95-78 win over TNT just a few days after suffering what many thought was a season-ending injury.
“This may sound a little gross but when you take that tape off his thumb, his thumb falls out [of place]. Just literally falls out like that. It doesn’t even stay in the joint. It just literally falls out,” Cone added.
Cua, however, isn't comfortable taking credit for the work on Brownlee, saying that just like a basketball team, the entire training group worked together to get the import back on the court.
“Actually, marami naman po talaga kami sa medical team,” Cua told SPIN.ph. “Siguro kasi I'm the head PT. Tulong-tulong kami diyan. ‘Yun lang kasi, ako ‘yung in-charge sa kanya."
Justin Brownlee's injury explained
Cua explained in detail the thumb injury that Brownlee sustained.
“Actually, ang nangyari nung Game 3 is natukod niya ‘yung thumb niya, na-dislocate. I was able to reduce [the swelling] naman that night. But ang problema, nagkaroon siya ng tear, ‘yung tinatawag na ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb.
"So according to [orthopedic surgeon] Dr. Randy Molo, he thinks that it’s a high grade tear kasi kailangan naka-support,” said Cua.
Cua said his efforts in taping Brownlee's right thumb wasn't as easy as it looked, saying it needed a different taping method in order for the finger to be functional. It was also the first time that Cua encountered such injury.
“Kasi ‘yung taping technique is not easy lalo na ang common na taping diyan, dumadaan sa wrist. Mahihirapan ‘yung range of motion. I was able to remember ‘yung taping job na ‘yun to be able to try it with Justin, which is I didn’t know if it was going to work or not. Tinry ko lang siya. Thank God na nag-stabilize siya,” said Cua.
“It’s not the common way to tape it. Natutunan ko lang years back. In-apply ko lang. Tingnan ko kung mag-wowork. Thank God nag-work,” he added. "Ang challenge kasi is to tape it in a way na madadalian siyang tumira.”
Cua said Cone was correct in his statement that Brownlee’s thumb would fall off if not for the taping method. The challenge was to keep the thumb not only stable but at the same time functional.
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“Kasi nga wala nang nag-susupport sa joint. Ang challenge namin is to tape it in a way na naka-stabilize plus naka-functional position. Kasi kapag hindi siya naka-functional position, anytime, lumalabas-labas siya. Ang hirap ng trabaho,” said Cua.
“So far, nakabisado na namin kung paano gawin. Maintain-maintain na lang, alaga na lang,” said Cua. “Uncommon (‘yung injury) and kasi shooting hand, mas mahirap. Added challenge sa amin. It’s a total team effort talaga with the Ginebra medical team."
Fortunately, Brownlee is playing like his old self even with the tape in his thumb. He is averaging 24.17 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.33 assists, and 1.17 blocks as the series heads into a Game 7 on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Dream come true for Ginebra fan Cua
The 37-year-old Cua is only in his first conference with Ginebra, but previously worked with Magnolia as its PT since 2011.
A graduate of the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila, Cua has been practicing since 2009. He is actually a Ginebra fan and his stint with the Gin Kings is a dream come true, and so was the chance to work as a physical therapist in sports.
“’Yung passion eh. I love basketball kasi. I grew up watching (Ginebra). I’m a Ginebra fan growing up dahil sa mga tito ko. And then, I really love basketball. So nagtrabaho sa Moro Lorenzo [Sports Center] in my first three years as a PT, so I fell in love with sports and being a PT,” said Cua.
Cua is also aware of the lure of going abroad for a higher pay in their industry, but has chosen to stay home. He owns the Transcend Performance PH sports clinic in Quezon City, which was also a way for him to encourage physical therapists to stay put.
“I chose to stay. I have my own sports clinic. ‘Yung platform is to encourage PTs here in the Philippines na it’s cool to be a sports PT here. Sobrang fulfilling na job,” said Cua.
Brownlee has been rescuing Ginebra countless times with his clutch baskets. But in this epic finale, Cua may have just made the biggest save of all.
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