Phoenix just can’t catch a break.
Still reeling from the absence of the indefinitely-suspended Calvin Abueva, the Fuel Masters caught the injury bug once more. This time, point guard LA Revilla was the casualty.
Per Phoenix head coach Louie Alas, Revilla suffered a fracture in his foot in their game versus the Alaska Aces, which they won, 78-76. There, he finished with six points in over 20 minutes.
“Si LA, na-fracture paa last game,” he said.
This is definitely is a major blow to the Fuel Masters, especially to their manpower. They also do not have forward Jaypee Mendoza, as he went under the knife to remove bone spurs.
Moreover, forwards JC Intal and Jason Perkins haven’t been healthy.
Intal suffered a fracture in his hand back in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup, while sophomore Perkins, according to Alas, has been playing through pain in his shoulder this Commissioner’s Cup.
“JC hindi pa one hundred-percent. Jason shoulder niya… naglalaro ng injured yun eh, kasi nakita niya wala si Calvin. Sabi niya sa’kin ‘Coach, papagalingin ko na lang after the conference’,” Alas said.
The Fuel Masters have been struggling in this mid-season joust. On Saturday, they suffered their fourth loss in six outings after bowing to Paul Lee and the Magnolia Hotshots, 96-99.
Still, Alas lauded the effort of his wards for the fight they put up until the end. Phoenix actually fought back from 11 down with less than four minutes left to play, but they fell just short.
“Sobra naman yung effort namin eh. We came up short.”
