PBA Pass-Through: Chism still an option; Al-Hussaini out for at least two weeks

February 22, 2016

Sunday action in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup saw Meralco keep its hot streak going with a slim 90-87 win over Phoenix Petroleum to improve to a league-best 4-0 record.

In the main affair, Barangay Ginebra finally broke into the win column with a 103-92 win over Rain or Shine.

Here are today’s updates and other tidbits in another edition of the PBA Pass-Through.

Chism still an option, hopes for the best decision

Rain or Shine import Wayne Chism injured his left hamstring last Wednesday against Meralco and had to be sidelined for the match against Barangay Ginebra Sunday night.

Chism watched from the stands in street clothes as the Elasto Painters brought in temporary import Antoine Wright a former New Jersey Net and Toronto Raptor.

Wright scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, but shot only 4-for-16 from the field.

Later, Chism, the reigning Best Import of this conference, talked after the game. He said he is recovering well with treatment and hopes the management’s decision will eventually be “a good one.”

“I am still an option. They really helped (with) my confidence because I was really down on myself because I worked hard to get here at the beginning of the season to start off well. But I got hurt so I just want to make a change when I come back,” Chism said,

“I have three weeks off. Staying. I just do my therapy. That’s the best practice I can do right now. Coach won’t let me until I am fully healthy. I will take my time when I come back and I will be ready to go.”

Wright said he has heard about the PBA from Chism himself.

“Me and Wayne actually have the same agent. We talked about it in the past. I’ve never been here, I never played here, so this is my first experience,” Wright said.

Wright shared he has not played professionally for a while, and the rust showed evidently.

“It’s been a while. I played in Mexico last year. We made it to the semi-finals. We lost, and I haven’t played since then. I had minor injuries, nothing that required surgery. It’s been a little bit of time since I played an official game, so there’s a lot of rust today,” he said.

But Wright did not want to make excuses and hopes to make up for a better game.

“I really wished I had a better showing today. I make no excuses for my performance. I am looking forward to the next game. I got here three in the morning. I haven’t slept. I got to the hotel, to the practices, then got measured, then to the game. But like what I said, I am a professional. I don’t make excuses.”

Chism and Wright should probably play a game of H.O.R.S.E. to determine who stays for good when both reach peak condition.

Al-Hussaini to be out for at least two weeks

Meralco center Rabeh Al-Hussaini was taken out of the floor during the first half of the Bolts’ encounter with Phoenix as he rolled his right ankle.

Al-Hussaini was assisted to the locker room and was taken to the hospital after the game.

“It’s bad,” head coach Norman Black said of the big man’s injury, and expects him to be out for about two to three weeks.