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| Kyles Lao grimaces in pain after hurting his left ACL. |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--UP's campaign for this UAAP season got a huge blow before it even started as Kyles Lao was revealed to have an ACL injury in the team's Friday night FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup match against La Salle.
Lao fell down clutching to his left knee after colliding to Enzo Navarro late in the second quarter of their match won by La Salle in overtime.
Lao was immediately rushed to Cardinal Santos Medical Center, where the MRI bared the extent of his injury.
With recovery lasting for six months at the soonest, Lao will miss the rest of the tournament as well as in the FBA. The period also effectively ruled him out of the UAAP season which will start on September 5.
Lao's ACL tear highlighted a long list of injuries that took place in the highly-physical match.
Earlier in the second quarter, La Salle's Kib Montalbo went down to a back injury and was also rushed to the said hospital. UP's Jerson Prado also suffered a back injury later in the game.
On the other hand, Jeron Teng sprained his ankle before the end of the third quarter while trying to evade the double team of Janjan Jaboneta and Cheick Kone, who later suffered a shoulder injury in the ensuing period. Both Teng and Kone tried to endure the pain in the fourth quarter and the overtime but later went to their respective benches for good.
Jett Manuel, who led UP in scoring despite a losing effort, went down in cramps late in the fourth quarter and did not return.
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