PBA: Ynares Antipolo bitten by injury bug anew as Bryan Sajonia hurts ACL vs SMB

Bryan Sajonia will be out for possibly a full year after an ACL injury. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—The worst-case scenario in Bryan Sajonia's knee injury came true as doctors confirmed that he tore his ACL during the third quarter of Titan Ultra's 144-113 loss to San Miguel.

Sajonia had a bad fall with 8:51 left in the said period during Wednesday night's game at the Ynares Center 1 in Antipolo, injuring his left knee in the process.

He was stretchered out of the playing court and was immediately rushed to the hospital, where the diagnosis was eventually confirmed on Thursday.

Sajonia's injury marked the second straight night a major sports injury happened at the said arena after NLEX import DeQuan Jones fractured his ankle on Tuesday night against TNT.

Since becoming an alternate venue for PBA games if ever the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and later the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay are unavailable in the late 90s, a huge number of notable major injuries happened at Ynares Center 1, leading to fans thinking if there is a "curse" of sorts at the said arena.

Jones' fellow Road Warrior, Kevin Alas, injured his ACL three times at the Ynares Center 1, while PBA legend and current Biñan Tatak Gel star Marc Pingris also tore the said ligament there too.

Pingris' Purefoods teammate, Eugene Tejada, suffered a career-ending spine injury at the said venue too, while Ed Daquioag suffered the same lower-leg fracture Jones got in 2022.

Sajonia, whom many argued was the steal of last year's draft, is expected to undergo surgery immediately, sidelining him for a full year.

With Sajonia gone, plus the possibility of a Joshua Munzon trade getting approved soon, the Giant Risers, who have been struggling in their first season in the PBA, could go from bad to worse.

Munzon, who sat out the entire Titan Ultra-SMB game, was being offered to TNT for Joe Celzo and a 2029 first-round selection.

However, people knowledgeable of the situation confirmed reports that the trade proposal is being amended.

A two-month Gilas Pilipinas break gives the Giant Risers a much-needed breather in hopes of making one last run to the Governors' Cup quarterfinals.