University of the East’s injury woes continue to hamper them just when they aim to make a late run for a Final Four seat in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
First, it was point guard Gjerard Wilson who suffered a dislocated shoulder injury that forced him to have a season-ending surgery in the United States.
He got the injury during a practice session by the Red Warriors after their fifth game of the season, playing against Adamson University.
Then before the Undas break, UE lost another one. During their game against University of Santo Tomas, Devin Fikes, who had a great first half, fell to floor while driving late in the third frame, holding his left knee. He did not return.
On Sunday, head coach Jack Santiago announced after their 87-86 overtime win over Far Eastern University that the Fil-Canadian forward will also go under the knife.
“Si Fikes will undergo surgery also, that’s final na, not only with our team doctor but we had a series of tests and second opinion with other doctors and wala, talagang kailangan siya mag undergo sa surgery,” said Santiago.
Fikes and Wilson are expected to be back by next season as the former still has four years of eligibility left while the latter will have his last dance in Season 87.
UE, after a miserable five-game skid, went back-to-back over UST and FEU to hike its record to 4-6 for joint-fifth with Ateneo de Manila University. The latter, however, holds the tiebreak.
With four games left in their elimination round schedule, the Red Warriors can still make a late push as fourth-running Adamson is just a game ahead at 5-5.
Their last four games would be against higher-ranked teams University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, Ateneo, and Adamson.
Noy Remogat, who holds the season-high for most points scored in a single game with 34, shared that with two of their teammates out, they have to fill the hole collectively.
“Siguro yung mindset para sa akin is lalong mag step up. Kumbaga kung ano yung role na nawala, parang pupunan ko rin,” said Remogat.
“Kilala naman natin si Wilson na point guard din so inisip ko lang na para sa kanya rin yung laro ko and yung laro na ginagawa ng team,” the sophomore guard continued.
“Kay Fikes naman ganon din ang mindset ng bawat isa sa amin.”
