UST’s Kevin Ferrer ‘day-to-day’ after freak injury in practice

MANILA, Philippines – UST Growling Tigers starting forward Kevin Ferrer is “day-to-day” after suffering a left hand fracture in practice this past week and will likely miss his team’s game on Saturday, August 23, against the FEU Tamaraws.

According to Growling Tigers Head Coach Bong Dela Cruz, Ferrer fractured his non-shooting hand in what is being called a “freak incident.”

“Yung left hand niya, may injury. Sa practice nagkaraoon nang freak accident. Nagkaroon nang fracture,” Coach Dela Cruz informed Rappler in an exclusive phone interview.

(His left hand is injured. There was a freak accident in practice and he attained a fracture.)

Dela Cruz elaborated that though Ferrer will likely miss his team’s game on Saturday against the Tamaraws, 6-2, he has not been ruled out for the season and the team expects him to return.

“Tomorrow, baka hindi siya mag laro,” according to the rookie head coach, who confirmed with UST’s team doctor. “Hindi siya out for the season.”

(He might not play tomorrow. He’s not out for the season.)

After UST, 4-4, takes on FEU, they will go up against the UP Fighting Maroons, 0-9, on Wednesday, August 27. Dela Cruz and his coaching staff hope that by then Ferrer will be back in action.

“Next game, sa UP, tingnan natin.”

(In our next game against UP, we’ll see.)

In Season 77 Ferrer is averaging 9.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 1.4 APG, but is shooting just 25% from the field, including 17% from long range.

With him likely out for Saturday’s game, the coaching staff has yet to come to a decision on who will take his spot in the starting lineup.

“Right now wala pang decision ang coaching staff,” explained Dela Cruz who added that Ferrer’s temporary replacement will be decided before UST’s match with FEU.

(The coaching staff has yet to come to a decision as of right now.)

Nonetheless, the team expects to have a healthy Karim Abdul back in action tomorrow after the fifth-year big man missed his team’s match against the UE Red Warriors and played limited minutes against the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Saturday, August 16 – during which the Tigers went 1-1.

“Si Karim, okay na siya,” mentioned Dela Cruz, who noted that his team needs to come out on the winning side against FEU, whom they defeated in the first round.

(Karim’s good to go already.)

Abdul is putting up 12 PPG and 7.4 RPG thus far in Season 77.

“Kailangan namin manalo tomorrow. Kailangan everybody should step up tomorrow,” he said before mentioning that his boys will have Ferrer on their mind during the game.

(We need to win tomorrow. Everybody needs to step up tomorrow.)

“Ang nakikita ko kasi diyan is everybody is going to step up para kay Kevin.”

(I expect everybody to step up for Kevin.)

– Rappler.com