PBA: Injury bug claims five victims in PBA opener

The much anticipated opening of the PBA Commissioner's Cup was saddled by injuries to key players of the four squads that saw action today.

[Related: Japeth soars as GlobalPort escapes with win over Petron on opening day]  

Spitfire guard AJ Mandani of the GlobalPort Batang Pier did not suit up for the game with a slight knee injury. "May konting iniinda si AJ sa tuhod niya kaya inupo ko na muna," said GlobalPort coach Junel Baculi

 

Three minutes into the game, Petron Blaze Booster Chris Lutz also checked out due to a rib injury. "I got hit in practice the other day and when I was trying to move from left to right I heard something pop," said Lutz, who had to watch the rest of the game inside the dugout. Then with a few minutes remaining in the game, Petron import Renaldo Balkman was inadvertently hit on his face with a Japeth Aguilar elbow. He was able to check back into the game. [Related: Barako bests San Mig in Toroman's debut]

 

The second game of the double-header also had players who could not suit up. Sean Anthony of the Barako Bull Energy Cola missed their first game due to a sore Achilles tendon. "I've been playing with pain for the past four or five weeks," Anthony admitted. "Even with painkillers it was tough to play but it go so bad that I could not even walk earlier this week so I decided to rest it." Anthony added that he'll be back in action after a week.

 

However, the biggest victim of the injury bug are the San Mig Coffee Mixers as they would have to play minus import Matt Rogers. The San Mig Coffee did not even travel to the venue as he had to be confined due to food poisoning. "Di na maganda yung pakiramdam niya nung last practice namin kaya binigyan na siya ng IV fluids, pero lumala ata kaya na confine na," said San Mig newbie Lester Alvarez. - RAF, GMA News