RK Ilagan and Christian David played limited action in Blackwater Bossing's narrow loss to the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup.
Blackwater put RK Ilagan and Christian David on minutes restriction when Blackwater made its PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup debut last Friday, March 13. Later that night, Blackwater coach Jeff Cariaso bared Ilagan and David only joined the team practice a week before their opener.
Ilagan has yet to regain his full straight after suffering a meniscus injury last conference, while David had a bone spur removed in the offseason.
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“To be honest we just got RK and CD back. Just last week,” said Cariaso after the Bossing ceded a close 81-84 decision against NLEX.
“During the whole preparation wala sila. They’re recovering, they’re getting better. They had minimal practice.”
Against the Road Warriors, both players saw action in less than 17 minutes for the Bossing. David finished with 12 points in 16 minutes and 30 seconds on the floor, while Ilagan had only two points and a rebound in a little over 15 minutes.
Asked when their minutes restriction will be lifted, Cariaso couldn’t provide a definitive answer.
“Hopefully by next game,” he said. “Wala silang tune up games. Pinaka up and down nila were scrimmages in practice. We’re developing, growing.”
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Blackwater takes on surging Terrafirma today, March 18 at 5:15 pm at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
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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.