PBA Pass-Through — March 28, 2015
Welcome to the Tiebreaker Times PBA Pass-Through. We will be giving you packaged updates from time to time, so you’ll know more about what’s happening around the association.
>> Hodge back
Meralco Bolts forward, Cliff Hodge, is back in harness a week after he sprained his right ankle. Hodge started for the Bolts in Game 1 of their quarterfinals series against the NLEX Road Warriors. Moreover, he logged 34 minutes, scored seven points on three-for-nine shooting, and had two rebounds.
Although still limping afterwards, Hodge has provided enough impact on the court, especially with screens to free up Meralco’s shooters.
>> Abueva, Dillinger injured
Bolts head coach, Norman Black, feared Jared Dillinger might miss the rest of the Commissioner’s Cup after the wing man went down in Game 1.
“It doesn’t look good. From what the trainer told me, it might be something that will keep him out for the rest of the conference,” Black said. “We will have him checked, but I would think he could not play on Sunday.”
Dillinger later told reporters that he never had any serious knee injury in the past prior to Friday night. He said he still felt pain after the game, and added it might be a “strain on the minimum based on the initial (observation).”
Dillinger will be having an MRI anytime soon to find out what injury he has.
UPDATE: 2015/03/28 13:37
Meralco Bolts Team Manager Paolo Trillo has confirmed that Jared Dillinger will be out for the rest of the conference. Dillinger has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain, and will require four to six weeks of rehabilitation. Dillinger will return during the Governor’s Cup.
Source: Naveen Ganglani of Rappler Sports
Meanwhile, Alaska Aces forward Calvin Abueva told reporters he has a “mild sprain.” Abueva logged only 12 minutes, and shot two-for-10 from the field, finishing with four points and four rebounds. As of Friday night, he is listed as day-to-day.
Rudy Lingganay of the NLEX Road Warriors also required assistance as he was kicked in the shin (think football during nasty tackles) in Game 1 against the Bolts, but it is nothing serious. Asi Taulava — who is a good two to three times his size — immediately helped the NLEX playmaker by carrying him off the court and on to the bench.
>> Purefoods unforgiving because it was a sign of respect
The Purefoods Star Hotshots annihilated the Alaska Aces by 34 points (not a typo). THIRTY-FOUR. They shot 60 percent from beyond the arc, and 60 percent overall. Attempts were just falling as if the law of averages was turned off on that game, but Purefoods head coach, Tim Cone, said they had to play at a high level all-game long because they know how capable Alaska is of scoring a massive comeback.
“The reason why we were so focused is because we had so much respect for Alaska and how good they are,” Cone said. “You can’t let up. This team goes back from 20-point (deficits) all the time so they really put their foot on the pedal.”
Cone was obviously just wary of the patented against-all-odds comeback run the Aces were known for during the Philippine Cup finals against San Miguel, so it is only necessary to be “unforgiving.”
