BLACKWATER import Robert Upshaw showed up in street clothes for the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup game against the Macau Black Knights, but emerged from the halftime break already in uniform.
What happened?
Upshaw was ruled out of the game due to a calf injury. But with the Bossing trailing against the Black Knights by four, 53-49, by the halftime break, Upshaw showing up in uniform raised hope that he would eventually play.
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Upshaw, however, stayed on the bench the rest of the way as an all-Filipino Bossing side lost to the Black Knights, 123-119.
Initial reports bared Upshaw dressed in the second half to avoid getting fined by the league, but the seven-foot behemoth and Blackwater head coach Pat Aquino said it wasn't so .
“I had suffered an injury in the last game against Ginebra,” said Upshaw. “We did some tests with a doctor and just kinda determined that it would be best for me to get some rest.”
On why he got in uniform, Upshaw said: “It was just what I was supposed to do.”
“We didn't know, it was a gametime decision for me to be in the game. I just felt like it was best for me to have my jersey on,” said Upshaw.
“Just to make a presence probably,” said Aquino on Upshaw wearing his jersey in the second half. “Still, wala pa rin presence. Hindi pa rin na-ano yung motivating factor.”
Aquino explained Upshaw has been dealing with the injury for a while and he merely reaggravated it.
“May problema siya sa calf niya. It's a former injury," the Blackwater coach said. "Parang very delicate yung pagka-injury niya. It's connected with his Achilles. Pinagpahinga talaga namin."
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