TNT will not have one of its main gunners for the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner’s Cup and, quite possibly, the entire 48th season of the league.
Roger Pogoy has been diagnosed with myocarditis, a rare heart disease.
The development was first reported by the Manila Times’ Richard Dy.
“We are told (Pogoy will be out) six months give or take,” interim Tropang Giga head coach Jojo Lastimosa told the Manila Times.
Pogoy, 31, was part of the Gilas Pilipinas Men team that competed in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The 6-foot-2 winger was also supposed to be part of the 19th Asian Games squad but during the first day of practice, disaster struck.
He had to beg off from Gilas duties after collapsing inside his home.
A series of tests followed that, later on, concluded that there was an inflammation of his heart muscle.
Pivotal was Pogoy during TNT’s campaign last season, playing in 55 games and averaging 18.3 points per game.