THE Philippine basketball world was left in total shock after NLEX import DeQuan Jones suffered a gruesome injury last Tuesday in a game against TNT in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
What seemed to be a routine drive to the basket led to serious injuries to Jones when he lost his balance, saw his right leg get caught under him as he fell, and broke his right ankle and tibula in the process.
Just a day later, Titan Ultra guard Bryan Sajonia tore his left ACL, MCL and PCL on a fastbreak play, even without contact, that happened on almost the exact same spot and in the same venue that Jones suffered the injury.
The two injuries have bolstered claims of a jinx or a curse at the Ynares Center-Antipolo as it was not the first time that serious injuries have happened at the venue.
Here are the instances of serious injuries that occurred in the venue:
ED DAQUIOAG
In a June 11, 2022 game, Daquioag suffered a gruesome injury while playing for Terrafirma in a game against NorthPort when his right knee twisted during the third quarter of that game. Daquiaog suffered a fractured fibula - the same injury that Jones suffered, and needed to be stretchered off the court.
ISAAC GO
Shockingly, in that same game where Daquiaog suffered the injury, Go also came down hobbling during the first quarter. It was initially thought the injury wasn’t serious because Go was able to walk on his own and even watched the game after he got hurt. But an MRI revealed that the special Gilas draftee of 2019 has suffered an ACL tear that ruled him out for a long period. Prior to the injury, Go represented the Philippines in the 31st Southeast Asian Games where Gilas settled for a silver medal.
KEVIN ALAS
Alas has sustained ACL injuries thrice now in his PBA career, all of which happened at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The first one was on March 2018 when he hurt his right knee during Game 5 of the Philippine Cup semifinals between NLEX and Magnolia.
Less than a year after that, Alas blew that same knee again at the Antipolo venue in a Philippine Cup elimination round game against Meralco after he landed awkwardly during a rebound battle against Cliff Hodge.he third ACL injury happened on November 2023 in a Commissioner’s Cup game against Terrafirma, this time in his left knee. There was hope that the injury wasn’t serious as he was able to walk on his own after he got hurt. But an MRI showed the real extent of the injury, forcing Alas to take another lengthy break. The injury happened just months after he helped Gilas bag a gold medal in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
READ Five of the worst accidents in the PBA
EUGENE TEJADA
The most serious injury that happened at Ynares Center came on May 14, 2006 in a Philippine Cup game between Purefoods and Red Bull. Purefoods forward Eugene Tejada suffered a spinal injury after a rebound play where he fellton the floor, and Red Bull’s Mick Pennissi landing on his back. It remains one of the most horrifying chapters that happened on the court not just in the PBA but in Philippine basketball.
The injury left the Fil-Am cager paralyzed from the neck down for many years. And although he was able to walk again, the incident ended his basketball career.
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