A bad news came up for Meralco just as it welcomed a good one.
The Bolts welcome back energy guy Cliff Hodge to its active roster in time for the PBA Commissioner's Cup, but will have to bear with the continued absence of injured forward Ranidel de Ocampo.
Coach Norman Black disclosed Hodge is already practicing back with the team after recovering from the MCL sprain he suffered during the Bolts' game against the Phoenix Fuel Masters at the tail-end of the season-opener Philippine Cup.
But just when things are beginning to brighten up for the franchise, there goes De Ocampo injuring his Achilles during the Bolts' practice at the Meralco gym barely two weeks before the second conference kicks off.
"He injured his Achilles. It's a new injury," said Black of De Ocampo's condition which would keep him out for at least three to four weeks or at least the early part of the mid-season tournament.
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The 35-year-old big man missed the whole all-Filipino conference trying to recover from a calf injury that kept him out for the latter part of the Bolts' Governors Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra last season.
If there's any consolation, Meralco will have a healthy Hodge back in its regular rotation.
"Everybody's back. Cliff Hodge is back already and everybody's in pretty good health and pretty good shape," Black pointed out.
Hodge also missed a few games to start the new season after undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs on his foot.
"He already recovered from the bone spurs in his ankle with the surgery that he had," noted Black.
The Fil-Am power forward had been playing well for the Bolts until he hurt his knee following a hard collision with Willie Wilson in Meralco's 92-90 win over the Fuel Masters. Hodge already had 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting before suffering the injury.
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Former Best Import Arinze Onuaku will reinforce anew the Bolts' campaign in the import-laden meet.
