Though hurting because of an ankle injury, Chris Banchero isn’t planning to rest any time soon.
The Filipino-Italian combo guard is still hoping to log in more minutes despite the pain, as he badly wants to help his Alaska Aces avoid going down 0-2 versus the Meralco Bolts in their 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal clash.
Banchero and the Milkmen – who finished the eliminations as the third-seeded team – were dealt a 92-97 defeat by an Allen Durham-led Bolts in their semis opener, Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
“It’s up to coach but I hope to play big minutes.
“It’s a huge game, it really is. We can’t go down 2-0. 2-0 against a team like Meralco, that’s going to be a problem. We need to even out the series,” said the 6-foot-1 Banchero.
Banchero admitted that he himself wasn’t even sure if he could come out and play Sunday’s game owing to the swelling of his right ankle, which he incurred in their 96-85 ouster of the San Miguel Beermen back in the quarterfinals.
“There’s a really bit of swelling. It’s just really painful,” said the 29-year-old from Seattle. “I was kind of up in the air to see how it fell during warmups and before the game.
“I told coach I could play and it felt good so he put me in.”
But Banchero assured that he’ll be much better come Tuesday, where they plan to fight back versus Meralco.
“I’m getting some treatment tomorrow and I’m going to be really ready to go on Tuesday,” said Banchero, the Aces’ fifth overall pick in the 2014 Draft. “We got a big game on Tuesday to even out the series.
“It’s going to be a good one.”
