Tough grind takes its toll

The PBA All-Filipino Cup elimination round ends tonight with its final double-header at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, but for the eight surviving teams, a more arduous trek will still be tackled until only one will be standing in the end with the most revered crown in the league in its possession.

For sure, there are lots of tangibles and intangibles to consider if one is to pick the team which will go all the way to winning the championship in the season-opening tournament.

But if the state of health of the top contenders is taken as one of the deciding factors, Purefoods could well emerge the top pick as coach Eric Altamirano’s team made it past the prelims without any casualty to injuries.

All the others went through the wringer, the wear and tear of the tough elimination grind, including Red Bull, Pop Cola and San Miguel which all lost key players to injuries.

Curiously, the Sta. Lucia Realtors finished the elims unhurt only to find themselves the first team out of the tourney. The Tanduay Rhum Masters, who were also plagued by injuries to Chris Cantonjos, Bong Hawkins and Ricky Calimag, later joined the Realtors in the sideline.

At the start of the Final Eight Sunday, the team which is the most handicapped is Red Bull who will be minus Mick Pennisi, Jimwell Torion and Glen Capacio. Junthy Valenzuela is also a doubtful starter for the team.

Torion has yet to play a game in the season as he’s still recovering from a shoulder surgery. Pennisi, meanwhile, has sat out more than half of the Thunder’s assignments after suffering a shin fracture.

It’s a tribute to the tough stand of the Thunder they still played competitively in the elims, narrowly missing a spot in the Magic Four.

Shell is another team with an impressive stint in the elims although it didn’t play a single game with a healthy lineup. Benjie Paras has just returned to active duty after recovering from a knee operation while Dale Singson is still nursing a sprained ankle. Gerry Esplana has a weak right shoulder which he plays with a stabilizer.

For Pop Cola, veteran player Jojo Lastimosa is out for the rest of the conference also due to a recent knee (patela) surgery. Riding the bench with a minor injury is reserve slotman Jovy Sese.

Another player who is likely to miss the rest of the campaign is San Miguel’s Boybits Victoria who was diagnosed to be suffering from hepatitis. Dan Seigle (back spasm) missed the team’s last two games while Freddie Abuda (sprained ankle) sat out their most recent game but both are expected to be back in the San Miguel’s red and white uniform in the quarterfinals.

Ginebra wasn’t spared as Alex Crisano took a bad fall in their game versus Pop Cola Wednesday and left the game early, complaining of a sore back.

Alaska’s Don Allado and Mobiline’s Vic Pablo are neither 100 percent healthy, having returned from sickbay a few days back.