Alarming trend

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jose Raul (George) Canlas isn’t complaining but he’s alarmed at the high incidence of player injuries in the PBA over the last four months. He’s been kept busy looking after the stricken cagers and fortunately, his competence has given basis for injured players deciding to undergo repair surgery and rehabilitation here instead of abroad.

“I’m worried about the number of injuries in the PBA,” said Dr. Canlas who recently performed surgery on Petron frontliners Jay Washington (torn tendon in the left foot) and Rabeh Al Hussaini (ACL reconstruction in the right knee) within days of each other. “Too many I feel in the last four months. At least nine were surgical. I usually do three to four a year from the PBA.”

Dr. Canlas, who has supervised the FIBA World Championships as head of the medical team, said adjusting from a two to a three conference season may be a factor to explain the rash of injuries.

“A lot of the injured players whom I did surgery on were fit so although conditioning is a factor, it isn’t the only one,” he continued. “There are other things to consider. I think the game has changed since the last three conference season (in 2004-05). However, I feel adjustments can be made to maintain the level of play.”

PBA commissioner Chito Salud recently said players now realize they can’t rely only on skills to get ahead. “It’s become a game of physical conditioning where staying fit is a must,” said Salud. “Players who are in tip-top condition are showing the way in terms of individual statistics. Now, players are taking physical fitness more seriously. If your stamina and fitness level are not up to par, you won’t last in a game.”

The role of a strength and conditioning coach in a team, whether in the PBA or elsewhere, has taken a major prominence in the game today. Among the country’s top strength and conditioning coaches are Dan Rose, Jim Saret, John Aquino, Dari de Rosas, Gus Vargas and Eric Banes.

 “The strength and conditioning unit in the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center is very good,” said Dr. Canlas. “A lot of PBA players get the Moro coaches as personal trainers. There are also good strength and conditioning coaches in the UAAP, like the ones at UP, La Salle, National University, FEU and Ateneo. Vietnamese and Indonesian athletes go to Moro for strength and conditioning, too.”

Talk ‘N’ Text coach Chot Reyes said the Texters first strength and conditioning coach was Dennis Aenlle and the second was Chester Tiongson. Both Aenlle and Tiongson have migrated to the US. Reyes then brought in De Rosas who was the Coca-Cola trainer before he was hired as the Brunei national track coach.

Rose, who recently accompanied the Philippines under-16 team to Malaysia, said evaluating the capability of a trainer is tricky. “I don’t really know who the trainers are in the PBA, I know only of them,” he said. “So to say who’s the best I can’t really say but I can say if you want to know how good a trainer is you have to assess the performance of players, not the team, and if they’re getting injured under him.”

* * * *

Playing nine games in nine successive days was a test of endurance for Smart Gilas Pilipinas at the just-concluded Jones Cup in Taipei. Jvee Casio sat out the team’s last three games to rest a swollen knee and coach Rajko Toroman even gave him a game off against Malaysia on the fourth day of hostilities. Chris Lutz, who scored in double figures in three outings, was sidelined with a swollen elbow in the third place playoff game against host Chinese-Taipei last Sunday.

Despite the absence of Casio and Lutz, Gilas performed above par in drubbing Chinese-Taipei, 82-72. The lead ballooned to 22 at 74-52 on Japeth Aguilar’s basket early in the fourth quarter and was whittled down on Chinese-Taipei’s 10-0 binge to close out the contest.

The revelation was Marcus Douthit who fired at least 20 points in five of his eight games. Like Casio, he was rested by Toroman in the Malaysia outing. Douthit averaged 26 points in the five Gilas wins where he played and only 14 in three losses. In Gilas’ 73-59 victory over Iran to start the tournament, Douthit hit 23 points and 7-2 Hamed Haddadi 25. In the semifinal rematch, Haddadi went berserk with 36 points and held Douthit to 16.

Toroman said Gilas’ game against Chinese-Taipei for third place was a test of character because coming off a disappointing loss to Iran in the semifinals, the Filipinos could’ve just easily given up and excused themselves from a hard fight. The fact that Gilas competed and won meant they passed the test with flying colors. They showed resiliency and pride in playing for the country.

At the FIBA-Asia Championships in Wuhan next month, the Philippines is bracketed in Group D with China, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Gilas should advance to the second round with China and the Emirates, leaving Bahrain behind. Gilas, China and Bahrain then join Group C survivors Jordan, Japan and Syria (leaving out Indonesia). The top four move on to the knockout quarterfinals and they will likely be China, Gilas, Jordan and Japan. Gilas could face either Qatar or Korea in the quarterfinals. If the Philippines wins, it enters the semifinals against China, Iran or Lebanon.