Already in tears after suffering an injury during De La Salle University’s game against University of the East on Wednesday, Kean Baclaan cried even more after receiving the results of his MRI hours later at Makati Medical Center.
The MRI confirmed that the 21-year-old guard had suffered a torn MCL.
“Siyempre masakit, pero mas masakit yung hindi mo alam kung makakapaglaro pa ako this season,” Baclaan said.
The expected recovery time is six to eight weeks, meaning he could return during the Final Four or the Finals if the Green Archers advance that far.
Baclaan was having his best game as a Green Archer against the Red Warriors, scoring 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting with four assists and three rebounds, fueling La Salle’s comeback.
But disaster struck.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Baclaan dove for a loose ball and tucked it on his left side. Wello Lingolingo, in an attempt to force a jump ball, dove onto Baclaan’s right side and collided with his right knee.
A day later, Lingolingo was handed a three-game suspension by the UAAP Basketball Commissioner’s Office.
Baclaan, however, holds no ill will toward Lingolingo for the incident.
“Hindi naman ako galit kay Wello. Magkakilala naman kami ni Wello at hindi naman siya dirty player,” Baclaan said.
“Ang akin lang is hinihintay ko lang din siya humingi ng pasensya sadya man or hindi sinadya. Na-injury na kasi ako at malaki ang nawala sa akin. Ito pa naman yung pinaghandaan ko simula nung lumipat ako dito sa La Salle.”
Now, Baclaan is focusing on his recovery, hoping to return to the court this season. If not, he still has one more year with the Green Archers to seek redemption.
“Ang iniisip ko na lang ngayon ay recovery ko. Nagpapasalamat ako sa La Salle, sa mga coaches, sa mga teammates ko, at sa management kasi nandun talaga yung support nila sa akin ngayon,” he said.
“Kung hindi man ako makabalik this season, babawi ako next year para sa La Salle.”
