TYLER Tio will be out for a while for Phoenix after suffering a badly sprained ankle in the team’s PBA Philippine Cup debut.
As it is, the sophomore guard already missed out on the Fuel Masters last game against Barangay Ginebra and risks missing some more as he recovers from his left ankle injury.
“We’re looking at couple of weeks recovery,” confirmed team manager Paolo Bugia on Tuesday.
The former Ateneo playmaker had another appointment with the doctor on Tuesday to assess the extent of the injury.
Tio went down with the injury with five minutes left in the fourth period of the Fuel Masters’ game against the Northport Batang Pier following a collision with Joshua Munzon.
He laid on the floor for a while, grimacing in pain while holding on his left leg. Tio was eventually taken out and never returned to the game which Phoenix lost, 124-120.
The All-Rookie team member last year went out of the Smart Araneta Coliseum being supported by two persons, while walking with an ankle support.
Tio skipped the Fuel Masters’ 102-92 loss to Barangay Ginebra on Sunday, 102-92, as he watched the action in street clothes on the Phoenix bench.
“One thing that really helped us out is that Tyler didn’t play,” acknowledged Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “They’re a different team without Tyler. He keeps everything under control. They don’t panic when things start going bad.”
Tio was the second local leading scorer for Phoenix in the last Commissioner’s Cup where the franchise reached the semifinals for the first time in four years. He averaged 9.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Phoenix next game will be against Terrafirma on Wednesday as it tries to notch its first win of the conference.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
