PBA ref injured after ‘Abueva smashup’

MANILA, Philippines - Edward Aquino, a key member of the PBA’s officiating crew, may be out for quite some time after sustaining a serious injury in a freak accident at endgame of the Alaska Milk-Barako Bull contest in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.

Aquino, a class C2 referee who’s been consistently making the roster of game officials tapped to call in the finals, is still in pain, confined at the Medical City in Pasig because of the injury he sustained after being thrown off the court by a rushing Calvin Abueva.

“He was given a shot for pain Sunday night. But up to this moment he’s hurt and can’t move. The good news is that he can feel if his foot is touched,” PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial told The STAR.

“He’s got swollen tissues and he’s ordered a five-day complete rest,” Marcial added.

“He was hurt right after the incident but able to finish the game because of the adrenalin. In the dugout, he could no longer move. It took two people to help him to the vehicle that brought him to the hospital,” said PBA technical official Ramil Cruz.

Abueva accidentally sent Aquino crashing to the baseline stand as the Alaska prized rookie bumped to the gangling 6-foot-3 referee while trying to save a wild fastbreak with a little over two minutes left to play in the game.

An Alaska support staff member and Mick Pennisi helped Aquino to get back on his feet. Though obviously hurt, the former PCU Dolphin gamely finished the match won by the Aces, 74-70, to seize solo lead in the tourney with a 3-0 win-loss card.

But Aquino complained of terrible pain in the dugout and was subsequently rushed to the hospital at halftime of the second game between Petron Blaze and Barangay Ginebra.

“Baka matagalan bago bumalik iyon (It might take a while before he could come back). He’s been ordered complete rest for five days. Then, of course, he’ll be looked on by the doctors again,” said Marcial.