This season, the San Beda College Red Lions fielded a team that is arguably their deepest ever. And it paid dividends on Friday afternoon, as four student-athletes from the Red Lions were hampered by severe bum stomachs.
Despite nursing four sick players suffering from diarrhea, the defending champions still managed to beat the JRU Heavy Bombers, 54-48.
“Actually there are four players who are sick right now,” disclosed San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez. “They’re all suffering from severe diarrhea and vomiting. We still have to check what’s really bothering their stomach.”
Ben Adamos and JB Bahio had already been confined in the hospital prior to the game, while Robert Bolick and Calvin Oftana tried to gut it out. According to several members of the team, the Red Lions had a team dinner days prior to the game but only the four stalwarts were stricken by amoebiasis.
Though Oftana did not play, co-captain Bolick still fought his way against the Heavy Bombers, still managing to finish with six points, six rebounds, and five assists in 22 minutes of action.
“Nag-start nung Thursday. Ngayon, paggising ko sabi ko bigay ko lang kaya kong ibigay. Two minutes, twenty minutes kahit ilang minuto bibigay ko na.
“Ayaw ko nga talaga maglaro kasi masakit talaga [tiyan ko]. Kaso malakas kasi masyado JRU, eh ayaw ko naman magpatalo, NCAA na kasi. Happy naman ako sa outcome, nanalo naman,” shared the 20-year-old combo guard.
The reigning PBA D-League Aspirants Cup MVP also stepped up during the third frame when JRU sliced San Beda’s once-15 point lead to just a solitary point. The 6-foot combo guard scored five straight points to keep the Heavy Bombers at bay.
“Gagawin mo talaga lahat para manalo eh, kahit anong kahiyayan gagawin ko na basta lang manalo,” the San beda co-captain said.
But with the Red Lions entering a break, Bolick plans to get himself confined to get back his lost nutrients.
“Masama pa rin pakiramdam ko, tae parin ako ng tae. Sakit ng tiyan ko eh. Kahapon nga 30 times ako tumae. Sakit talaga,” he disclosed.
“Siguro after ng game papa-confine siguro ako. Two days break naman kami, dun na ako magpapaghinga.”
By: DANINE CRUZ
