THE San Miguel side which Bay Area Dragons defeated in the opener of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals was not really in full force.
Conspicuously not around were key big men Vic Manuel and Mo Tautuaa as the Beermen suffered a stunning heartbreaker against the guest team from Hong Kong, 103-102, in a game they led for 44 minutes.
Both Manuel and Tautuaa are down with injuries, according to team manager Gee Abanilla.
See: Bay Area frustrates SMB with Game One comeback from 16-points down
Manuel is still nursing a strain ITB (Illotibial Band Sydrome) that has kept him out for the playoffs so far.
Tautuaa meanwhile, is again suffering from a boil and could undergo another procedure to remove the root of the infection.
The Fil-Tongan played in Game 1 of San Miguel’s quarterfinals series against Converge FiberXers, scoring six points and five rebounds in a 114-96 win, but no longer suited up in the series clincher and Game 1 of the semis against the Dragons.
Incidentally, this is the same injury that forced Tautuaa to skip some of the games of Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 during the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Austria last year.
“Both Vic and Mo are day-to-day. But si Mo kailangan ng (minor) surgery ulit,” said Abanilla.
The two played big the first time San Miguel battled Bay Area in the eliminations. Tautuaa finished with nine points and 10 rebounds, while Manuel had 15 points and five rebounds in a 113-87 loss where the Beermen didn’t have June Mar Fajardo and Terrence Romeo.
Both Tautuaa and Manuel are likewise key contributors’ in the Beermen’s bid to retain their title this conference.
The 33-year-old Tautuaa averaged 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while Manuel normed 11.2 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Game Two of the semis between the Dragons and Beermen are set Friday at the Philsports Arena.
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