The Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals received some bad news in the hours before they got to host their first-ever NCAA-sanctioned game, Thursday afternoon.
“He’s out of the season because he tore his ACL,” shared EAC head coach Ariel Sison.
Last Tuesday, Laminou had fallen awkwardly during a rebounding scrum against Arellano’s Lervin Flores with 1:37 left in the opening frame. But after an MRI, his right knee injury was diagnosed with a torn ACL. Recovering for the injury alone takes six months.
“I don’t know what to say right now. I’m just so down thinking that Laminou is out for the season. I thought it’s just another minor injury. We have other bigs to step up but Laminou is Laminou,” admitted Sison ,as the third-year foreign student-athlete averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks this season.
Still, team captain Sidney Onwubere remains defiant, saying that their goal to make the Final Four remains the same.
“We have the same goal and that’s to make it to the final 4. We have big guys that can really step up,” said EAC’s skipper.
“But right now we are thinking about Laminou. We want to be by his side para hindi siya masyado malungkot. I know he needs family like us at this point.”
