BAY Area Dragons big man Liu Chuanxing was made to wear a mouthpiece for Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against San Miguel following an accidental hit from June Mar Fajardo.
The 7-foot-5 Liu showed up with a mouthpiece as three of his front teeth were dislocated after a hit from the 6-foot-10 Fajardo late in Friday’s Game 2 which the Dragons won, 114-95.
[READ: Dragons on cusp of PBA Finals]
Fajardo accidentally dropped an elbow on the mouth of the Chinese national team member while going for the basket with 3:59 left in the game and the outcome of the game already settled as the Dragons led by 16.
Shortly after being taken out of the game, Liu went straight to the hospital to have an MRI just to make sure there was no facial trauma or fracture.
Unfortunately, three of his teeth were misaligned and had to see a dentist on Saturday.
“So ibinalik na lang yung teeth niya sa dati na may bakal sa likod for support instead na mag dentures siya,” said Bay Area team manager Maya Montecillo.
“Ibinalik na lang bale yung teeth sa pagkakatanggal.”
Due to his immense size, Liu had to be fitted with a personalized mouthpiece that would take days before he could use it.
“Right now meron siyang ginagamit na generic lang just to protect him. And then after two days, gawa na yung personalized mouthpiece niya. Kasi hindi naman normal yung size ng mouth niya, so I had one especially made for him. So the dentist is already working on it now,” added the lady team manager.
Liu was good enough to play in the Sunday’s game where the Dragons were looking to sweep the Beermen in the best-of-five series and clinch the first finals berth.
“Kaya naman (maglaro), malayo naman sa bituka. So we just got him a mouthpiece for added protection na lang,” Montecillo said.
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