THIS is exactly the good news that Rain or Shine needs - badly we might add - at a time when its injury woes are piling up.
Luis Villegas, the 6-foot-7 big drafted No. 3 overall by Rain on Shine in 2023, is on track to make a PBA comeback by December after an ACL injury prior to making the jump to the pros and reconstructive surgery the following year.
The one-and-done player of the University of the East Warriors has played just eight games since joining the Elasto Painters, confined to the bench by ACL and meniscus tears his rookie year and his comeback season shut down in December 2024 by persistent pain that eventually required another surgery.
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The good news is, there have been no more setbacks since, according to Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
If Villegas comeback is delayed, Guiao said it is only because Rain or Shine is taking a convervative approach on his recovery.
"Late lang ang recovery," Guiao told SPIN.ph when asked about Villegas' progress. "We're just being convervative. No setbacks, just playing it safe."
"We waited this long, might as well be sure," the ROS coach added.
The timing of Villegas' impending comeback is perfect, considering Rain or Shine is dealing with an injury crisis in the frontline after Keith Datu - drafted by ROS right behind Villegas - suffered a season-ending patellar tendon injury.
Aside from that, sophomore Caelan Tiongson has been sidelined by a hamstring issue while veteran Beau Belga is on minutes restriction after an injury-plagued season, forcing ROS to fast-track the call-up of rookie Christian Manaytay.
Manaytay was signed to a two-year contract on Tuesday.
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