Barako Bull guard RR Garcia out one more game after dislocating shoulder

MANILA, Philippines – Barako Bull Energy head coach Koy Banal said that guard RR Garcia is expected to miss one more game after dislocating his shoulder during the Energy’s win against the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters last week.

Following his team’s one-sided loss to the Blackwater Elite on Friday, October 11, in which Garcia was absent, Banal told Rappler that the athletic guard is also going to miss the Energy’s upcoming contest against the Star Hotshots on Sunday, December 13.

“Right now, he’s out for two games (including the one against Blackwater), definitely,” said Banal, who explained that Garcia actually re-aggravated a prior shoulder dislocation he suffered when he was still playing for GlobalPort.

Garcia injured his shoulder during overtime against Talk ’N Text. The incident took place when his arm was out as he tried to bother a Jayson Castro jump shot attempt, but as the TNT guard leaped for the jumper, his forearm collided with Garcia’s wrist, and it also affected the shoulder.

“Okay naman, okay naman siya. Nag PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) siya yesterday,” said Banal, who admitted that the point guard’s absence did somewhat affect his team in their forgettable defeat to the lowly Elite, which snapped a 5-game losing streak.

(He’s fine, he’s fine. He did PRP yesterday.)

“Maybe, yeah, maybe because of his absence, syempre, medyo kulang yung kumpyansa nang teammates niya,” said Banal.

(Maybe because of his absence, his teammates lacked confidence.)

Garcia, a former UAAP MVP for the FEU Tamaraws, was enjoying his best season as a pro before dislocating his shoulder anew with averages of 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists a game in the Philippine Cup.

“Right now, hindi ko pwede i-sabihin na ganon (I can’t say it’s that), because anybody, I still believe anybody can step up in any given game. Maybe because of what happened, yun yung naging reason… medyo bumaba yung morale nang team,” said Banal.

(Maybe because of what happened, that became the reason… the team’s morale regressed.)

The defeat dropped the Energy to 4-5, and while that record is already good enough for them to get one of the 10 playoff seeds, it’s clear the team’s play has been inconsistent.

“Again, the coaches are doing our best to prepare the team, both physically and mentally,” said Banal. “We’re trying to be smart with the way we practice, [how] we conduct our practice, yung practice plan namin (our practice plan) – especially kung malipit na yung games (when the games are near).”

But the players also need to play a role, says the head coach, which means getting themselves ready to play hard and win games for the team.

“So it’s up to the players. Yun yung hindi control nang mga coaches (that’s what coaches can’t control). Pag dating sa (when it comes to the) game, how they will prepare mentally and emotionally, how they’re going to prepare by themselves,” said Banal. – Rappler.com