De Ocampo recovering from injury before joining Gilas practice

MANILA, Philippines – Ranidel de Ocampo has been in attendance for Gilas Pilipinas’ first two days of full practice since Monday night, August 3 at the Meralco Gym. But he wasn’t in training gear. 

The 33-year old forward was in street clothes and sat out the practice sessions as he recuperated from a right hamstring injury, De Ocampo told Rappler. 

(RELATED: Blatche assures he’ll be back in game shape in a month)

De Ocampo injured his hamstring during Talk ’N Text practice and is a week into recovery. He said he will need one more week to fully recover, but admitted he will begin easing himself into training in the next few days. 

“Susubukan ko lang (I will try),” he told Rappler. 

(READ: Blatche: ‘China is a strong team and so are we’)

De Ocampo was named to the 17-man national men’s basketball pool which includes Gilas cadet and PBA Draft applicant Troy Rosario. He was part of the Gilas roster that snagged the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship and competed in the 2014 FIBA World Cup. (READ: List of PBA players requested for Gilas revealed)

The 6-foot-6 former PBA Best Player of the Conference has been called upon once more to a tour of duty for the nationals as they aim for gold and the 2016 Summer Olympics berth that comes along with winning this year’s continental championship in Changsha, Hunan, China from September 23 to October 3. 

Several other Gilas members are also nursing injuries including back-to-back PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo as well as fellow Talk ’N Text forward Kelly Williams who injured his knee Monday night. – Rappler.com