Everyone in the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ side worried when import Denzel Bowles crashed to the floor during their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup clash against Olu Ashaolu and the NLEX Road Warriors, Friday evening.
Bowles apparently rolled an ankle while driving to the paint with about 7:50 remaining in the final frame. It caused him to roll in pain for a while before getting back up. He made the basket, but he was hobbling around the court.
Still, the former Best Import and PBA champion made it clear that he wasn’t suffering any serious pain.
“Just rolled an ankle.
“I guess it was just a stability thing. I’ll be ready for next week,” said Bowles.
Bowles bravely willed through it, and he even led the Elasto Painters’ fightback from 17 points down.
The 6-foot-10 center strapped the team on his back to carry them for a time. Eventually, his efforts helped Rain or Shine to knock within just one, 97-98, after Kris Rosales made a three-pointer from the right corner witj 33.6 seconds remaining.
Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to the desired result. No thanks to Ashaolu’s heroics, Rain or Shine bowed, 100-97.
The loss gave the Elasto Painters their fourth loss in seven outings. For Bowles, he hopes that he and the team can find ways to close out games, as they did last Sunday in their 88-86 overtime win over Columbian Dyip.
“We just gotta find a way to close,” said Bowles, who had 35 points, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block in 37 minutes and 57 seconds.
“This is a good group of guys. We just stick together, and we’ll find a way.”
