JIMMY Alapag is taking a slow but sure approach in his return to Meralco from a hand injury.
Although he didn’t break a bone in his left hand, which he hurt in the team’s last game in the Commissioner’s Cup, the Bolts star playmaker’s recovery has been so slow that he can only participate in offensive play simulations and not yet in scrimmages.
“Jimmy can do 5-on-0, but 5-on-5, he’s still not there,” Bolts assistant coach Luigi Trillo said.
Alapag, who injured his hand in the do-or-die Game Five of the semifinals against Alaska early May, admitted his injury is taking longer than expected to heal.
“It’s better. I hurt it more than I initially thought,” the 38-year-old point guard said. “But it’s taking about a month to kind of get back out here and be with the guys.”
Good thing, the Governors’ Cup doesn’t open until the middle of next month.
“I’m fortunate that we have five weeks or so before the conference starts,” Alapag said, “So I’ll be ready to go.”
With the former league MVP expected not be in tip-top shape at the start of the season-ending conference, it gives a chance for young playmakers Baser Amer and Anjo Caram to step up.