Anxiety filled the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Saturday evening. Kevin Alas got floored and hurt his knee after battling for a rebound with 3:19 left to play in the NLEX Road Warriors’ clash with sister team Meralco Bolts.
The scare was justified. The Ynares Center is the very same venue where he tore his ACL, during Game Five of their 2018 PBA Philippine Cup semifinal battle versus the Magnolia Hotshots in March.
Alas was in excruciating pain while on the floor, even with the presence of the medical staff. The 27-year-old guard admitted that the fear of last year’s setback came back, making things more difficult.
“There’s a bit of pain. Siguro partly takot na rin kasi pagdating ko sa venue, dito ako na-ACL nung Game Five eh. Then una kong pinuntahan yung spot na na-ACL ako. Siguro para rin mawala yung fear ko about it. Wala naman.” the 6-foot scorer shared.
“Pero at the back of my head andun pa rin siguro yung takot.”
Alas had something to smile about, at least, since his Road Warriors nipped the Bolts, 87-83, to book their second straight win in the 2019 Philippine Cup. Alas contributed 12 points and six rebounds in nearly 28 minutes.
Now, Alas hopes for the best, that his injury is nothing serious. He will head straight from Antipolo to the hospital to undergo an MRI.
“Diretso ako MRI now. Initial diagnosis seems okay naman. Praying for the best,” he said. “Yes, may pain pero nung pagbalik ko nung rehab may pain pa naman eh. I think it’s normal.
“‘Di ko pa masabi ngayon pero sana wala lang.”
