Knight out of NCAA tilt with brain tumor

MANILA, Philippines — Letran’s title drive suffered a big blow after starter Jerrick Balanza was diagnosed with a brain tumor and will be out for the rest of the NCAA basketball tournament.

Letran’s NCAA Management Committee representative Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, and coach Jeff Napa yesterday confirmed the news after receiving results of the tests conducted on Balanza, who was found to have a tumor on temporal lobe Tuesday.

Balanza, who averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in the first round, was set to undergo operation anytime this week.

“He was complaining he can’t hear that’s why we took him to the hospital for tests,” said Calvo referring to Balanza.

“He would need rest,” Napa said.

Calvo said Balanza’s operation would cost at least P500,000.

“The initial cost was P800,000 but we asked for a second opinion. Jerrick’s neuro-surgeon Dr. Manuel Mariao, who we just awarded as an outstanding alumnus, also waived his fee so it will just be P500,000,” said Calvo.

As this developed, Calvo said they already asked NCAA Mancom chair Frank Gusi of host Perpetual Help to allow them to replace Balanza with Gaylord Jap Pambid.

This means the Knights will be without Balanza when they take on the Arellano U Chiefs at 4 p.m. today at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

The other game pits Perpetual Help (5-4) against College of St. Benilde (6-3) at 2 p.m.

Letran is currently tied for third spot with CSB on 6-3 cards behind unbeaten Lyceum of the Phl U (10-0) and No. 2 San Beda (9-1).