David to try to play through pain in Powerade’s KO match versus Meralco

AKTV/Leslie Sy

Despite a rousing 99-93 win over Barako Bull in a do-or-die match Tuesday night, Powerade cannot celebrate just yet.

The Tigers will have less than 24 hours to recover before they take on the Meralco Bolts in another elimination match on Wednesday night.

And they will have to do it with top gun Gary David still hobbling from an ankle injury.

“It’s going to be tough to make it one game without him, but it will take its toll on us in the long run. Hope we can do it again tomorrow,” said Powerade coach Bo Perasol.

David is determined to see action despite the injury, which kept him out of the last three quarters of the Tigers’ victory over Barako.

“Mas nininerbiyos ako kapag nanonood kesa naglalaro,” said David. “Pipilitin ko talagang lumaro bukas. Kung may paraan na magagawa ngayon para makalaro bukas gagawin ko na agad.”

Perasol said David took pain killers, but it wasn’t enough for the league’s leading scorer to return to battle.

“He’s been trying to manage the pain,” said Perasol. “I was hoping to bring him back in the last seven minutes of the second period, pero nakakailang hakbang pa lang siya, sumakit na ulit yung paa niya.”

Fortunately for David, his teammates stepped up in his absence, allowing him to rest his injury — at least for one night.

Despite the quick turnaround, Perasol said he’s confident about his team’s chances against the Bolts.

“Alam na namin yung gagawin namin,” he said. “Dapat maglaro na lang kami.”

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