Ginebra remains unsure of Japeth Aguilar’s return to the lineup as he continues to recover from an MCL injury he suffered two months ago.
Initially optimistic that they can have him back in time for the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals opener, head coach Tim Cone said that only the 36-year-old has the answer whether or not he can buckle back down to work sooner.
The champion mentor is, of course, hoping that his star big man could play in Game 1 on Easter Sunday and gradually work his way back into shape as the series goes but then again, it all depends on Aguilar alone.
“Only he will know when he’s ready to play,” Cone said during the pre-Finals press conference Monday at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.
“Again, it’s just a day-by-day, hoping he improves little by little to a point where he can actually get back with the team and start playing at a high level. It’s hard for him to come back in like a Game Four or a Game Five, in the middle of a series.
“Ideally, it would be best if he could start Game 1 and work his way into the series. But again, that’s up in the air at this point. It’s a day-to-day situation for him,” added the owner of 25 league titles.
Aguilar has been on the sidelines since early in the conference, but it’s not just Ginebra who’s coming into the finale without a star big man.
TNT has been missing Kelly Williams since the quarterfinals due to a calf injury, indeed a tricky situation especially for an athlete his age.
(C) PBA Images
The former league MVP didn’t see action in the entire semis against Meralco and it’s still uncertain if he can return during the best-of-7 bout.
Williams himself said that he is already feeling better, but quickly added that he would want to play it smart since he’s not getting any younger.
“I wanna be out there right in Game 1, but we’re just taking it slow,” he said. “I’m working with the team doctor and the PT to make sure I’m coming in wisely.
“‘Cause historically, my hard-headedness would get me out there, 100-percent, trying to go 100-percent when my body’s not ready. So, now I’m just being smart. I’m 41 years old, so there’s no margin for error here,” he added.
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
