PETRON'S veteran center Danny Ildefonso has decided to forego surgery on his left shoulder in order to suit up on Wednesday when the injury-plagued Boosters clash with the rugged Rain or Shine squad at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ildefonso has missed the team’s last four games since dislocating an oft-injured shoulder during Petron’s close 98-95 win over sister team Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at the MOA Arena on October 21.
“Aalalayan ko na lang,” Ildefonso told Spin.ph shortly after Petron dropped an 81-95 decision to Meralco on Sunday night at the MOA Arena.
“Mabuti nang maglaro ako kesa nakaupo lang ako. Iiwasan ko na lang yung ibang contact,” he added.
Ildefonso has dislocated his left shoulder five times in his 14-year PBA career. But he feels he can play through it, nonetheless, especially now that the team is in dire need of big men.
Had he pushed on with the surgery, Ildefonso would have been out for more or less the rest of the Philippine Cup and majority of the Commissioner's Cup this season.
The two-time PBA MVP was averaging just 2.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10 minutes during the first five games of the season before being sidelined by the shoulder injury.
Petron’s woes seemed endless with its roster depleted by injuries to big men June Mar Fajardo, Ildefonso, Dorian Pena. Marcio Lassiter has played just three games this season due to an assortment of injuries.
On Sunday, Petron frontliner Jay Washington sat out the final quarter of the loss to Meralco after being hit by an accidental blow to his left leg.
At present, the Boosters are carrying a 3-6 record after losing their last three games, good for eighth spot in the standings.
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