ROOKIE Andrei Caracut welcomed the postponement of the UAAP Season 78 games on Sunday, saying the unexpected break gave him more time to get back to full fitness.
The freshman out of San Beda missed the Green Archers’ last two games after suffering from allergies that were so severe he had to be confined in a hospital for six days.
But he was poised to return for the Green Archers’ game against Far Eastern University Tamaraws, only for the match to be postponed owing to Typhoon Lando.
Caracut admitted he was actually ready to play for the team against University of the East on Wednesday, but head coach Juno Sauler decided not to field him in.
The La Salle freshman, though, admitted he’s still not in shape after practicing just once prior to the Red Warriors match.
“Puwede na akong maglaro pero kailangan ko pa makabalik sa training,” he said.
“Wala talaga ako sa kundisyon. Back to zero.”
Caracut has so far averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in his first year with the Taft-based school before missing the team’s last two games.
Sauler admitted Caracut’s offensive firepower was notably missed in the team’s first game of the second round against University of Santo Tomas, which the Archers lost.
But the Archers scored a bounce-back win over the Warriors to improve their record to 5-4, although they are still three games behind joint leaders FEU and UST (8-1).
Help will soon be on the way of the Archers with Caracut’s expected return.
“May ilang days pa ako para makapag-prepare,” he said.