Besides Schonny Winston – who’s been dealing with a calf injury – De La Salle University also missed key players Mike Phillips and Kevin Quiambao in their knockout game against Adamson University.
The Green Archers dropped out of Final Four contention after they saw themselves knocked out by the Soaring Falcons, 80-76, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
Phillips, a Season 84 Mythical Team member, has missed La Salle’s last three games against University of the East, University of Santo Tomas, and this.
Meanwhile, Quiambao also did not play both against the Growling Tigers and against Adamson as well.
Both of them were scratched because they were “under the weather.”
Green Archers head coach Derrick Pumaren cleared things after their last game of Season 85.
“Si Kevin is positive for Covid, but he tested negative today. But the protocol for the UAAP it’s seven days quarantine. Five days pa lang,” said Pumaren.
Quiambao, the presumptive Rookie of the Year, was the second top scorer of La Salle with 11.23 points, 6.54 rebounds, 3.23 assists, and 1.08 steals.
Phillips, meanwhile, is the hustle man for the Green Archers, going all out in every possession.
He averaged 9.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.6 blocks, and 1.7 assists.
“Michael is suffering… We don’t know yet kasi he’s feeling dizzy up to now. Right after the NU game, we had to bring him to the hospital. We ran tests sa kanya, he was cleared by the cardiologist, the cardio is no problem,” shared Pumaren.
“We had tests MRI, EEG. So far clear naman. But he still cannot practice, he’s still suffering from dizziness and headache. We’re still trying to trace what’s going on.”
Still, Pumaren is proud of La Salle’s fifth-place finish this season.
“We need a break. We really needed a break. I’m surprised that we even got to this point to play in a knockout game to make it to the Final Four,” he said.
“Not having a complete lineup is not an excuse for us. I’m still surprised we got seven wins.”