The TNT KaTropa may have drawn first blood in their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal clash versus the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Friday night, but they won’t be celebrating.
It isn’t that the victory guarantees nothing yet, since it is a best-of-five series. Rather, it’s because bruising forward Anthony Semerad suffered an injury late in Game One.
Semerad hurt his left shoulder with only 39 seconds left to play after falling hard to the floor – in front of the Ginebra bench – when he tried to out-hustle Justin Brownlee for the loose ball.
It took him a while to get back on his feet while the paramedics came in with a stretcher. Still, Semerad managed to stand on his own and headed to the dugout – assisted by coaches, though.
Semerad left with 17 points built on four three-pointers, on top of two rebounds and an assist. He was among the KaTropa’s five players who finished in double figures in the 95-93 win.
“Huge loss,” lamented TNT active consultant Mark Dickel.
“Alam naman natin na isa siya sa defensive unit namin, tapos yung opensa niya kailangan na kailangan din namin. Sana makabalik agad siya. Major ata injury niya,” said Troy Rosario.
“Hopefully, hindi ganun katagal na mawawala siya.”
As of this posting, no official report regarding the extent of Semerad’s injury has been released. But for Dickel, Semerad’s probable absence can be an opportunity for the others to step up.
“But you know, we have a lot of players that I have a lot of confidence in. So it’s an opportunity for Don Trollano and Ryan Reyes and Brian Heruela,” he said. “Really sad for Tony because he’s working so hard to get a game like what he had tonight.
“To get hurt is just awful.”
