RANIDEL De Ocampo is on his way to recovery after the Gilas Pilipinas and TNT legend tore his Achilles during a 40-over basketball league in Cavite.
De Ocampo had to undergo surgery after the injury that he sustained while playing for his hometown of Tanza in the Cavite Ballers League. The TNT assistant coach missed a few games with the Tropang 5G due to the injury.
De Ocampo suffered the same fate as TNT imports Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Bol Bol, who broke his Achilles in Game 2 of the 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinals that forced the Tropang 5G to replace him with Chris McCullough.
The good thing is that De Ocampo can already walk on his own and even attended TNT’s finals campaign against Barangay Ginebra where it finished runner-up.
“Nakaka-lakad lakad na. Pareho kami ng nangyari ni Bol Bol. Nauna lang ako eh. Tatlo na kami. Si RHJ, pagaling na ‘yun. Three weeks din ako hindi nakadalaw,” said De Ocampo.
But even with his injury, De Ocampo was determined not to miss a special moment for the family - the graduation of his son Ranidel Jr.
De Ocampo attended the graduation ceremony at Ateneo on a wheelchair, and fresh from surgery.
“‘Yung mga bata, maaalala nila ‘yun habang buhay,” said De Ocampo.
“Kasama mo sila sa special day nila. First honor pa. Talagang nakaka-proud. Kahit kakagaling ko lang sa surgery, pupunta talaga ako kahit naka-wheelchair."
“Mahirap lang ‘yung pagsakay at pagbaba (ng sasakyan) pero inaalalayan naman ako ni Misis. Alam mo naman tayong mga magulang, matiyaga tayo, sa mga hatid sundo, asikaso ng gamit," he added.
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