BY now, we all know about June Mar Fajardo plans to suit up for San Miguel in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Alaska on Sunday, a little over a week after suffering a knee injury
That however isn't a sure thing, considering the mixed signals from the team and conflicting reports in the media about the true extent of the injury the star slotman suffered in a semifinal game against Rain or Shine.
While the team has insisted there is no major damage in Fajardo's knee, sources had previously told Spin.ph of a partial tear in his ACL - an information later repeated in a tweet by courtside reporter Mara Aquino after a talk with San Miguel's team doctor.
That has cast a shadow of about over Fajardo's expressed desire to play in the PBA Finals, more so since he is considered the most dominant player in the league and one of the pillars of the Gilas national team.
[See Docs fear Fajardo suffered partial tear on ACL, out of PBA Finals]
Amid the uncertainty, we asked orthopedic surgeon Mark Macias about the risk of bringing back Fajardo, who, by the way, was forced to skip Gilas' stint in the Fiba Asia championship last year owing to plantar fasciitis on both feet.
Between the two injuries, plantar fasciitis is definitely more bearable - and less risky, Macias said, especially if there's a partial tear in the ACL of his left knee.
"Mas mainam ilaro 'yung plantar fascitiis, kesa 'yung tear (sa tuhod), whether it's meniscal tear o ACL," said Macias, now a vice governor of the province of Negros Oriental. "Para sa akin, mas problema 'yung tear sa tuhod. Pero hindi natin alam baka maliit lang 'yung tear.
"If you have an injury, especially on the knee, and you continue to play, you're exposing it to further injury. 'Yung normal nga na walang punit, delikado na lalo na kaya yung merung punit, lalo mo gagalawin, lalo ma-i-injure yun," he added.
[See Will Fajardo do a Willis Reed?]
Had Fajardo been dealing with plantas fasciitis at this time, Macias said he will support a return to action for the 6-10 pride of Pinamungjan, Cebu.
"Yung plantar fascitiis kasi, walang napunit, namamaga lang 'yung paa. Pwedeng lagyan lang 'yun ng anesthesia, namamaga lang 'yun eh. Walang punit," he said.
"'Yung tuhod niya kasi, talagang walang option yun to play immediately. Kasi may mga tear na pwedeng mag worsen eh. Kaya either pahinga lang 'yun o kung malaki 'yung tear, operahan na," said Macias.
[See Plantar fasciitis playable, according to expert]
Listen to interview with Dr. Macias: