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| AJ Edu might miss the November window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. B.League (file photo) |
MANDALUYONG--AJ Edu's health status ahead of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers November window is now up in the air as Gilas Pilipinas team manager Richard Del Rosario and head coach Tim Cone revealed on Wednesday that he is returning home hurt.
The 6-foot-10 power forward is expected to arrive in the country later in the day, but due to an injury, it is now in serious doubt whether he will play for Gilas in their two-game home stand at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
"Right now, we are in communication with the medical team of AJ in the B.League, and he needs to undergo strengthening with his knee," Del Rosario said when the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas called for a press conference at Launchpad.
As it turned out, Edu suffered what appeared to be a non-contact right knee injury in the third quarter of Nagasaki's Saturday game against Akita.
Edu felt something in his right knee after securing the rebound, and he asked for a substitution with 6:47 left in the third quarter of the said match-up.
He never returned to the game won by the Happinets, 71-68, and the Velca decided to sit him out in their Sunday rematch also won by the Happinets, 55-54.
"AJ is doubtful," Gilas head coach Tim Cone said.
"We will make our assessment with our home trainers and medical staff and see from there. It depends on his recovery if he will be available for the window," Del Rosario added.
With Jamie Malonzo already ruled out for the window as he continues to recover from a calf injury, either Japeth Aguilar or Mason Amos will make it to Gilas' lineup for its games against New Zealand on Nov. 21 and Hong Kong on Nov. 24.
However, if Edu sits out the entire window, both Aguilar and Amos are assured of spots in the Final 12.
Gilas is already monitoring the situation of Kai Sotto as the B.League placed him in concussion protocols after Koshigaya's Saturday game against former team Yokohama, which means the national team is at risk of entering the FIBA window with only 11 available players per game.
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