Add Keith Datu to the list of injured players for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
Even while they continue to pile up wins, Rain or Shine just couldn’t catch a break when it comes to healthy players.
Already without Caelan Tiongson and Stanley Pringle, the Elasto Painters added Keith Datu to the list of players in sick bay.
This after the big man slipped and fell terribly hard on the floor with 7:57 left in the third period of Rain or Shine’s win over Phoenix on Wednesday in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
[Related: PBA: Rain or Shine keeps rolling, clips Phoenix for fourth-straight win]
“Hindi ko alam exactly ano status niya, kung how serious the injury is but he’s already been having issues with his knees even before,” said ROS coach Yeng Guiao, who is also managing the minutes of seasoned slotman Beau Belga, who notably dealt with vertigo earlier this year.
“We’ll see. We have to make an assessment of his injury, his health,” coach Yeng added on Datu.
As a silver lining, the Elasto Painters did claim a 91-80 win over Phoenix, allowing them to take over solo first in the standings with a 5-1 record.
Now, Guiao and his staff will just have to find a work around as they brace for the league juggernauts in the second half of eliminations with multiple players on the mend.
“Mahirap kasi na mina-manage namin minutes ni Beau, tapos si Keith nagkaproblema ngayon. Tapos si Caelan na injury din. Baka puro gwardya na lang ilaro namin,” he said, delivering the last in jest.
“We’re going to have time to figure something out in the next few week.”
—
Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.