ATENEO didn't just limp to the end of the first round of the UAAP Season 88, it's also walking wounded.
Jared Bahay and Divine Adili missed the Blue Eagles' 71-66 overtime defeat to National U on Saturday owing to injuries.
Bahay hurt his shoulder during Ateneo's triple-overtime classic against University of Santo Tomas two weeks ago, while Adili has been bothered by his back from the onset of the season.
READ This question got Tab whistled for a technical. Find out what
That only puts coach Tab Baldwin in a tough situation heading into the second round.
"Jared's shoulder is something that probably will require attention later on, but he'll be able to play with it," he shared of his lead guard. "It's just a matter of getting the rehab to strengthen the joint around the damage in the shoulder so that he has as much protection as possible."
Bahay has been one of the team's top performers, averaging 8.3 points, 5.0 assists, 3.7 boards, and 2.3 steals in quarterbacking for the Blue Eagles.
Baldwin, though, is optimistic that the Cebuano playmaker can return in time for the homestretch of the eliminations.
"I don't think that's going to be that long. But again, until he gets back into live competition and we see the ability of the shoulder to take some hits and his confidence in it, we don't really know," he said.
Adili's condition, however, is a lot more concerning.
"Divine has been playing the entire time way less than 100-percent and it finally just caught up to him and he just couldn't make the start line," the coach shared.
"I think it's probably gotten progressively worse, but we'll have to get another scan on him and that's planned for the next day or two to find out the degree of damage that he has in the back."
That uncertainty has been looming over Adili's head, especially with him being one of the main weapons for Ateneo's frontline with averages of 7.5 points and 8.2 rebounds through six games.
Still, Baldwin and his fellow coaches are holding out hope.
"Maybe it's something that, given a bit of rest, he can come back for the next game, but we just have to see," he said.
Ateneo (4-3) opens its second round campaign on Wednesday against Far Eastern U (2-5) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
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.
