Player injuries stalling Jong’s timetable

The Samsung PBA Governors Cup is way past the halfway mark and national coach Jong Uichico is getting worried over the spate of injuries that have hit almost one-third of the national training pool.

In fact, the Hapee Philippine Team plays with only eight to nine players as it goes up against Alaska Milk in a lone game at the Makati Coliseum today.

RP Hapee will be without Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle, Mick Pennisi and possibly Boyet Fernandez and Don Camaso as it seeks an outright playoff crack against the Aces in their 6 p.m. tiff.

National hopefuls in the RP Selecta who are still nursing injuries are Ali Peek, Noy Castillo and Jimmy Alapag. Peek and Castillo both underwent surgery and are still going through rehabilitation treatment in the United States.

"Up to now hindi ko pa nakikita ang bubuuin kong team. Hindi kasi makumpleto, so it’s hard to assess everything," said Uichico. "It would be easy if we’re to name the 12 best players but the question is whether these players would blend with one another."

"We want to see how these players perform together. Maganda ba ang lalabas sa mga kumbinasyon nito o nito. Iyun ang mga bagay na hindi natin nakikita ngayon," Uichico added.

While the training couldn’t go full blast because of injuries to numerous players, the scouting mission continues with assistant coach Eric Altamirano and chief scout Binky Favis now in Seoul, looking at the would-be members of the Korean national team.

Altamirano and Favis, who left Manila Monday, will be posted in Korea for over two weeks, scouting games of the top Korean players in the ongoing Korean basketball league.