MANILA — Meralco’s bid for its first-ever Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) title took a major hit as center Raymond Almazan suffered a knee injury in Game 3 of the Governors’ Cup Finals.
Alamzan’s injury was later revealed to be a lateral meniscal tear in his left knee after the result of the magnetic resonance imaging he had after the game was bared on Tuesday.
The team listed Almazan as doubtful for Game 4 of the championship series against Ginebra on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
But as how Coach Norman Black observed him at the Bolts’ locker room while he was getting preliminary treatment, it is likely that Almazan will sit out Game 4 and possibly the rest of the best-of-seven series.
“When I talked to him at halftime of the game, he couldn’t move his leg, and being a former player myself, that’s never a good sign,” Black said after Game 3.
Almazan hurt his left knee after a bad landing while trying to make a layup midway into the first quarter of Game 3.
As what Meralco team manager Paolo Trillo said, the team will assess Almazan’s condition before making a final decision.
Down 1-2 in the series, Meralco needs to beat Ginebra on Wednesday night to avoid falling to a 1-3 hole that will put the latter in a prime position to win the Governors’ Cup championship for the third time in four seasons.
Before Game 4, the PBA will reveal the Best Player and the Best Import of the Conference.
Justin Brownlee and Allen Durham are the top candidates for the Best Import award.
Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo and Chris Standhardinger are among the prime contenders for the BPC award. (PNA)
