CEBU, Philippines - Four-time champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles cruised to their third straight win but their 58-50 beating of the Don Bosco Greywolves last night at the Cebu Coliseum was overshadowed by the horrific injury of Andrew Velasco.
The All-Star guard suffered an open fracture in his right leg after he bumped Don Bosco's Juan Miguel de la Torre at the 7:50 mark of the third period and the Magis Eagles on top by a dozen points, 32-20.
Velasco went down writhing in pain for several minutes before he was stretchered out of the playing court with blood dripping out of his fractured leg.
Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) physician Rhoel Dejano administered first aid on Velasco before he was whisked away to a hospital for further treatment.
"I think it's the only second time we had this kind of injury in the CESAFI. The last incident of a fracture I can recall was when Rudy Enterina was still coaching Don Bosco some years back," said Dejano.
Dejano described the extent of Velasco's injury as very severe that he likened it to the one sustained by NBA superstar Paul George during a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas three years ago.
"Given the extent of his injury, I think he's out for the rest of CESAFI season," said Dejano. "He can still play again but definitely not this year."
SHS-Ateneo coach Rommel Rasmo agreed with the grim prognosis of Dejano.
"I know he's out for rest of season with that kind of injury. Let's just hope for the best," said Rasmo. "But we have to move on. We have to stay positive, we have to stay together."
Without Velasco, the Magis Eagles still marched to an eight-point victory of the gritty Greywolves to tighten their grip of the juniors division lead in the 17th CESAFI basketball season with a clean 3-0 slate.
After swapping missed shots in the first two minutes, Juan Miguel de la Torre broke the ice of the match for the Greywolves but the vastly-improved Benedict Yu tossed in nine points in an 11-1 blitz that towed the Magis Eagles on top, 11-3, for good.
JB Damolo and De la Torre went 3-of-4 from the line to put Don Bosco within five points, 6-11, but Benedict Chua sank a 3-pointer, then Andrew Velasco made back-to-back treys including a buzzer-beater to close the first period with the Magis Eagles ahead by 14, 20-6.
The Greywolves could only trim the deficit down to a single digit, 16-24, as the Magis Eagles launched a seven-to-nothing run to post a 31-16 lead with less than two minutes before halftime.
The Greywolves staged a last ditch rally in an effort to pull an upset but time wasn't on their side. (FREEMAN)