De Ocampo doubtful for Olympic qualifier

MANILA, Philippines - Will Ranidel de Ocampo be able to get back in competitive form in time for the Olympic qualifying tourney?

“At this point, there’s no certainty. It will all depend on how quick my recovery is and on how I feel,” said De Ocampo, set to return to Gilas for  light workout only by mid-January.

“I’ve been out for four weeks, with two weeks spent on the bed. I really lost power,” De Ocampo told The STAR.

De Ocampo, a Gilas Pilipinas mainstay from 2010, is barely back from his back injury, showing up in TNT practices but just to watch and observe from the sidelines.

The former St. Francis of Assisi stalwart could be out for the rest of the PBA Philippine Cup for the injury suffered in a freak accident during weights training last October.

But for many, the biggest question is his availability for Gilas for the Olympic qualifier in July.

“Even myself, the first thing that came to my mind when I suffered the injury was Gilas,” he said.

“Of course, I want to join the team in the Olympic qualifier,” added De Ocampo, a key player, being a highly dependable stretch forward.

“He’s one of few big forwards who can shoot from afar. That’s what he brings to Gilas,” said TNT head coach and Gilas assistant coach Jong Uichico.

De Ocampo has played only a game in the 2015-16 PBA season when he suffered the injury.

He collected 26 points, 15 rebounds, three steals and one assist in a 98-114 loss to Alaska Milk last Oct. 23.

The No. 4 draft pick by FedEx in 2004, De Ocampo averaged in twin digits in all but one of his first 11 seasons in the pros. He has career averages of 12.46 points, 6.18 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

If healthy, De Ocampo could be a shoo-in on the Gilas team to the Olympic qualifier.

Others in the pool are Andray Blatche, Junmar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, Marc Pingris, Troy Rosario, Ian Sanggalang, Calvin Abueva, Marcio Lassiter, Gabe Norwood, Jayson Castro, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Terrence Romeo, Paul Lee, LA Tenorio, Jeff Chan and Ryan Reyes.

Lee also has his health woes, set to rejoin Rain or Shine in practice only in January.

Moala Tautuaa is a reserve naturalized player while Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Ferrer and Mark Belo have been tapped as practice players.

Gilas will compete in one of the three Olympic world qualifying tourneys, needing to top the event to make the Olympic proper in Rio de Janeiro.

No Philippine team has made the Olympiad since 1972 in Munich.