It seems like Rain or Shine just couldn’t find the spell that could break the injury curse.
The Elasto Painters, though winning over the San Miguel Beermen 95-80 Wednesday night that helped them clinch a playoff spot, could not wholly celebrate as three of their veterans are hurt.
Rain or Shine played on Wednesday without main floor general Chris Tiu and two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap, and lost six-foot-eight slotman Raymond Almazan during the match.
Tiu has a strained hamstring but there’s a chance that he might see action in the quarterfinals. His status is far from Yap, who will be out for two weeks due to a pulled calf muscle.
“Chris, I think he’s going to rest on Friday to prepare us on Sunday. Hindi naman ganoon kalala yung injury niya kumpara kay James. Kay James, mukhang malabo,” said head coach Caloy Garcia.
Yap might only be able to return to the fold if the Elasto Painters would make it into the semifinals.
Almazan, meanwhile, has been nursing a hand injury prior to the match, but it got worse after being hit. He only played 2:44 minutes and had three points, an assist, and a steal.
“Si Raymond, he had a hand injury prior to this game. Today, yung pagdrive ata ni Alex (Cabagnot), parang natamaan, so namaga yung kamay. So we didn’t want to use him anymore,” Garcia said.
Even one of Rain or Shine’s leaders in Beau Belga expressed disappointment with injuries hitting his teammates, but says that they could not do anything about it for it is something beyond their control.
“Kumbaga mga injuries talaga, traydor. Traydor sa buhay ng players yun. [Kaso] Hindi namin control yun,” rued the hefty six-foot-six slotman.
