A Letran Knights player has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, necessitating surgery that will cause him to miss the rest of the NCAA Season 94 basketball tournament.
Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, Letran’s representative to the NCAA Management Committee, confirmed that 21-year-old Jerrick Balanza was diagnosed with a tumor in the temporal lobe of the brain.
Balanza, who averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in the first round, won't be back until November at the earliest if the surgery is successful.
That is all secondary to Letran.
“Yes, we need him, but his health is our primary concern,” said Calvo.
Balanza is seeking help for the surgery, which will cost P500,000 at the minimum.
“Initially, P800,000 was the cost given to us but since the neuro-surgeon, Dr. Manuel Mariano, is from Letran and was recently awarded as an outstanding alumnus, it was cut to P500,000. Peter Cayco is helping because he knows people from the hospital,” said Calvo.
The Knights have asked permission from the NCAA for Balanza to be replaced by reserve Gaylord Pambid for the rest of the tournament. —JST, GMA News
