TNT is bracing for the worst regarding the status of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
Initial assessments by the team doctor indicate a full tear in his left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a devastating blow for the 6-foot-6 forward.
Confirmation of the injury came from team manager Jojo Lastimosa, who expressed concern over the severity of the situation.
“MRI coming in by tomorrow or the next day,” Lastimosa added.
The injury occurred during Sunday’s quarterfinals game against Rain or Shine with just 3:54 left in the opening quarter. Ganuelas-Rosser attempted to drive but his left knee buckled, resulting in him crashing into Andrei Caracut.
(C) PBA Images
He was carried off the court and did not return to the game.
The Tropang Giga suffered a 121-113 defeat against the Elasto Painters, forcing the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals series to go to a do-or-die.
Recovery from such an injury typically takes nine to 12 months.
This setback is particularly disappointing for him, as he had only recently joined the TNT camp on February 26 following a three-team trade involving NLEX and Blackwater.
In his first conference with the Tropang Giga, Ganuelas-Rosser had been in the process of adjusting to head coach Chot Reyes’s system, averaging 6.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
With Ganuelas-Rosser sidelined, TNT will have to rely on the rest of its frontline as they face Rain or Shine in a crucial do-or-die quarterfinals game on Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
