ANTIPOLO – Japeth Aguilar believes the ankle sprain he sustained in Saturday’s match against Columbian is not a severe one.
Aguilar said he suffered a sprain ankle after stepping on the foot of Columbian cager Jackson Corpuz while setting a screen in the first half of Barangay Ginebra’s 97-85 win over Columbian.
Aguilar, however, feels that he can play for next Saturday’s match against Blackwater in another out-of-town game in Digos City.
“Okay naman siya. Next game namin, sa Saturday pa. Rehab lang this coming week,” Aguilar said.
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone is also hoping for the best.
“We lost Japeth in the first half. We don’t know how bad the injury is,” said Cone during the postgame press conference. “We will not know until tomorrow. We’ve got a week. Sprained ankles, you’ll never know how long it can be. Can be three to four months or can be two to three days. We will know more about it tomorrow. Hopefully, he will be ready in Davao.
The injury spoiled what was a good game for Aguilar as he had 11 points in 17 minutes of play.
Aguilar admitted Team Pilipinas was on his mind when he suffered the ankle sprain as it comes in the week where naturalized player Andray Blatche arrived in the country.
“’Yun nga naisip ko agad, ‘yun’yung sa Gilas since crucial ‘yung mga coming practice kasi nandito na si Dray and stuff. We will see,” Aguilar said.