A cloud of concern is hovering above San Miguel after Jordan Adams complained of hamstring pain in their eventual loss to a vengeful Rain or Shine in their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup rematch on Thursday night.
The American forward asked to be subbed out at the 8:43-mark of the fourth quarter, slightly hobbling on his way to the bench. He never came back into the game, reducing the Beermen to an all-Filipino unit all the way to the end.
Adams left the match with 24 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting from the field, five rebounds, two assists, and five steals in 33 minutes of action, proving to be a huge absence for his team as SMB absorbed a 122-112 defeat.
“Na-strain daw ‘yung hamstring eh,” lamented June Mar Fajardo to reporters moments after the match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. “May check-up siya bukas. Sana, hindi serious ‘yung ano, kasi sabi niya masakit daw.”
It’s a tough predicament for Adams, who is just in his third game back after curiously being placed to the injury/reserve list to give way for Sheldon Mac.
He played against NLEX last September 11 in what proved to be his lone rodeo with San Miguel as the team reactivated the 30-year-old winger after Mac submitted a game that left a lot to be desired, finishing with only 16 markers.
Adams then announced his return by erupting for 49 points and 11 rebounds to power the Beermen past Phoenix, 139-127, last September 13, and the squad has since been rolling with him as its reinforcement.
But after Thursday, uncertainties have risen regarding his status, which could be crucial in SMB’s hunt for the no. 1 spot in Group B.
“Ia-assess siguro ‘yun bukas, kung ano ‘yung magiging resulta. Baka ‘di makalaro next game kung may ano, kasi ‘di naman maghi-heal ‘yung hamstring in 24 hours,” the league’s only eight-time MVP said worriedly.
Presently, the team of Coach Jorge Gallent is at no. 2 in the pool with a 6-3 record, sitting behind an Elasto Painters side carrying a 7-2 card.
Both squads still have a game left in the eliminations. They will be taking turns in battling Blackwater, with San Miguel facing the Bossing first on Saturday before the Elasto Painters have them on Monday to close the phase.
It’s a must-win for the two but mostly for the Beermen, in order for them to keep their chances of finishing as the top seed of the pool alive.
But all that Fajardo and the rest of San Miguel are hoping is the best for Adams, their fingers crossed that the former NBA pro suffered nothing serious.
“Sana, walang punit,” he said.
