Ian Sangalang may not suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming fifth window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers later this month.
The Magnolia big man still has a nagging right knee injury. He incurred it in the grueling four-game series against former champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last week.
“‘Yung sa achilles ko (right) tsaka yung knee ko.
“Yung sa may anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ko kasi sobrang pagod nung series namin sa semis,” revealed the 26-year old Sangalang.
The former NCAA Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player out of San Sebastian said that he already felt the knee pain as early as Game Three of their best-of-five semifinal series against the Gin Kings last week. But he still played through it until they finally won the series with a slim 112-108 victory in Game Four.
“Actually sa last game namin against sa Ginebra, talagang pinilit ko lang., Sabi ko last na ito para di na humaba so binigay ko na. Kahit anong mangyari, binigay ko na,” he added. “Game Three pa lang naramdaman ko na sa second quarter, may iniinda na ako. Kailangan talaga.
“Wala kang magagawa.”
This is the reason why Sangalang has missed the past couple of training sessions for Gilas including the tune-up match last night against Jordan where his teammate Paul Lee showed up and observed the game.
Now, Sangalang is currently undergoing rehabilitation on the said knee while also resting.
With this, the 6-foot-7 slotman admitted to his slim chance of cracking the line up. He has already missed several practices and might not be ready to participate in the remaining sessions.
“Siguro kapag hindi ako nakapunta or hindi talaga ako nakapag-practice,” added Sangalang.
“Kasi kung pupunta lang ako doon para manood lang siguro o ganun. Wala namang nala-line up sa ganun. Pero yun nga, tingnan nalang natin.”
Sangalang also added that he might not make it to tonight’s Gilas training at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City. He is set to undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) on the said knee.
Sangalang said he has already informed the national team of his status through a formal letter sent by the Magnolia management.
“Nag-submit naman ng letter yung management na ganun. Nag-submit naman sila. So hindi ko pa nakakausap si Sir Butch (Antonio). Tina-try ko pa lang siyang tawagan para alam namin kung anong gagawin,” added Sangalang, who made his Gilas debut during the fourth window.
“Naka-indicate naman doon (sa letter) na nagrerehab ako.”
However, nothing is cast in stone yet. Sangalang still has his fingers crossed for the razor-thin chance of being ready just in time of Gilas’ crucial matches against Kazakhstan on November 30 and Iran on December 3.
“Yun nga, sayang kasi now another opportunity, another chance. Kailangan ko lang talaga na magheal yung mga nararamdaman ko.”
Nevertheless, he is still proud to be invited to the pool, and looks forward to the next opportunity,
“From the start naman na maging part ako ng pool ng Gilas, hindi ko naman ini-expect na ma-line up ako. Yung matawag lang yung pangalan ko sa pool na yun. I’m so happy and proud sa sarili ko, sa mga naa-achieve ko,” he beamed.
His availability for the looming Finals against Alaska – which gets going on December 5 – also remains a question.
“So ayun. Kailangan ko talaga sigurong alagaan yung sarili ko para one hundred-percent at fresh going into the Finals,” he said.
“Hindi ko masasabi pero gagawin ko yung best ko.”
