A BIG scare turned out to be a mere minor glitch for Blackwater, making it more positive going into its match against a San Miguel Beer crew debuting in the PBA Governors Cup Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Elite have yet to win after two starts, their last loss -- an 86-103 defeat to Star last Sunday -- marked by a groin injury to import Trevis Simpson that forced him to sit out the last 11:36 of that game.
After tests and thorough examination, the injury was not as worse than feared.
"Light strain lang sa groin muscle," related Blackwater coach Leo Isaac. "Ang maganda, bata pa siya kaya mabilis ang recovery period."
Following the required four-day rest, the 25-year-old Simpson was given clearance to practice again Friday and should be fit enough to do battle against a SMB squad not even four weeks removed from its Commissioner's Cup title-run.
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Still, the Beermen remain fancied since a line-up led by the likes of June Mar Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross and Arwind Santos is now reinforced by Wendell McKines.
The Elite remain unperturbed with two reliable old hands steadily getting back their groove.
Mac Belo is back in harness following his stint with Gilas in the Jones Cup while JP Erram has regained his lethal form, proof of which are his 11 points, 15 rebounds and seven swats against Star, giving Isaac more reason to be upbeat going to the game.
"Ganoon naman lagi ang approach namin, positive," said Isaac, before adding, only half in jest: "Basta kami umaasa lang na sana may hangover pa sila sa championship nila."
Isaac also pointed out the silver lining in the loss to Star, which saw Blackwater fighting its more fancied foe on practically even terms until the injury to Simpson with the Elite trailing by just 70-75, barely 24 seconds into the payoff canto.
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"Nu'ng nakaraan maayos sana," said Isaac, whose team badly lost its tournament debut to sizzling Meralco 107-78.
"Kung hindi na-injured import baka naiba kuwento," added Isaac. "Hindi ko sinasabing mananalo, baka lang naiba kuwento."
