Paul Desiderio’s worst fears have come true.
The 25-year-old guard out of Liloan, Cebu will miss the majority of Blackwater’s PBA season 47 campaign after being diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on Tuesday.
The injury occurred during the Bossing’s tuneup game against TNT last Saturday at Moro Lorenzo Gym in Quezon City.
“My worst fear has come true: Today, I was told I tore my ACL and would have to undergo an operation next week. This means I would need to leave basketball for a year,” read the post of the University of the Philippines great.
Desiderio, a 6-foot-1 guard who was the fourth overall pick in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft, averaged 7.4 points and 2.3 rebounds during the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup.
He was expected to be one of the key cogs of the team.
Despite the setback he is facing, Desiderio vowed that he will come back stronger.
“This experience has humbled me and will keep me grounded as I promise to use this time to get better every day and come back stronger.”
