Already without Stanley Pringle, as he is with Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian Games and Sean Anthony due to a calf injury, the NorthPort Batang Pier might also lose key players Jeric Teng and Nico Elorde due to injuries.
Elorde sustained a back injury, while Teng hurt his calf muscle in his left leg in the Batang Pier’s match with Olu Ashaolu and the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday evening at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, which they lost, 107-123.
And that has left NorthPort head coach Pido Jarencio worried.
“Na-miss namin yung dalawa eh, si Stanley and Sean… Ang masakit pa, si Elorde and Teng. Si Teng mukhang matatagalan. Yung kay Elorde, likod, nakakatakot,” rued the veteran coach.
“Dami, injured kami. Puro injured.”
If ever worse comes to worst, NorthPort will be left to make do with what they have. Asked if the team will seek free agents to fill in the spots that might be vacated, Jarencio did not give out anything certain – yet.
“Titignan namin.
“Pag-uusapan ng coaching staff at management kasi siyempre gagastos ka pa rin. ‘Di pwedeng kukuha ka lang kasi yung na-injured, may contract pa diyan eh. Titignan natin kung ano yung importanteng kailangan,” he expressed.
Still, Jarencio tipped his hat to the Road Warriors for the performance they churned out – NLEX shot an excellent 53.3 percent from the floor.
“NLEX played very well, [expletive] they’re making their shots. Wala na kaming magagawa eh. Everybody’s making their shots,” he said. “Kami naman, ‘di maka-depensa. Alam mo naman ‘pag ‘di ka makadepensa, ‘di ka maka-shoot, frustrations come in. Lahat eh. Parang yung mundo ang bigat na.
“Basta look forward and positive lang.”
