MPBL Finals: Cebuano Calo unsure of status for Game 2 due to ankle injury

Cebuano Eman Calo of Davao Occidental ices his sprained ankle. The former UV cager’s status for Game 2 is questionable due to the injury he sustained in Game 1. | photo from Calo’s FB page

Cebu City, Philippines — Davao Occidental’s spitfire guard Eman Calo is unsure of his playing status for Game 2 of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League National Finals against the San Juan Knights on Saturday afternoon at the RMC Gym in Davao City.

Should the Cebuano miss the game, the Tigers will be fighting an uphill battle, down 0-1 in this best-of-five series after dropping Game 1 on Thursday, 74-84.

In that game, with his wife and child watching from the stands, Calo waxed hot, scoring 27 points. Unfortunately, his night did not end well as the University of the Visayas (UV)-product sprained his ankle after it got stepped on by San Juan guard Michael Ayon-Ayon.

In an exclusive talk with Cebu Daily News, Calo relayed that his foot remains immobile and wrapped in heavy bandage. He added that he will see on Saturday if he is able to give it a go.

Calo’s possible absence, however, is just one of the Tigers’ concerns, especially after the Knights’ veterans — Macmac Cardona and John Wilson in particular — burned their defense. 

Wilson had 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals while Cardona had 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists

“Defense among kulang sa game 1. Ang intensity kay kulang,” lamented Calo.

(We lacked defense in Game 1. The intensity was lacking.) 

Calo added that he believes San Juan can be beaten but several adjustments still need to be made.

“Ok ra man, makaya ra man sila but gahapon, bad start lang jud. Naunhan ra mi nila but in game 2, mubawi ang samdan nga tigre,” vowed Calo.

(We were OK, we can match up with them. But yesterday, we had a bad start. They started better. But in Game 2, expect the wounded Tiger to bounce back.) /bmjo