ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Andrew Velasco of Ateneo de Cebu in action against the University of the Visayas in this February 2017 photo of a game in the NBTC at the Hoopsdome in Lapu-Lapu City.
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SHS-AdC’s Velasco to start rehabilitation after going through surgery

Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
5 p.m. – CIT-U vs SWU (High School)
6:30 p.m. – CIT-U vs SWU (College)

Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu guard Andrew Velasco is out of the woods and on the road to recovery.

This after the 18-year-old leading scorer of the Magis Eagles went under the knife on Wednesday morning to repair his broken right leg that he injured in a game against Don Bosco in the Cesafi high school basketball tournament last Tuesday. The Magis Eagles won that game, 58-50.

The Cesafi’s chief physician, Dr. Rhoel James Timothy O. Dejaño, reported that the Bacolod City-native Velasco went through a procedure called an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), which was done by orthopaedics specialist Dr. Jose Antonio G. San Juan.

According to an online medical site, an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) refers to a surgical procedure to fix a severe bone fracture, or break.

“Open reduction” means surgery is needed to realign the bone fracture into the normal position. “Internal fixation” refers to the steel rods, screws, or plates used to keep the bone fracture stable in order to heal the right way and to help prevent infection.

“He is going to start rehabilitation tomorrow and maybe discharged by Friday or Saturday,” Dejano said.

Velasco will then go through a 10-week rehabilitation program after which he will be evaluated for the next step of his recovery process.

Andrew as inspiration

Cebu Daily News was able to speak to the 5-foot-9 Velasco just moments after the injury that left his bone jutting out of his skin, and the 18-year-old divulged that he heard his leg snap when it rammed into the knee of Don Bosco forward Miguel dela Torre, who was defending him on his way to the basket.

Everything after that was a blur, he added.

The loss of Velasco is a huge blow to the Magis Eagles’ campaign for a fifth straight title.

However, Ateneo de Cebu can find solace in the return of two-time reigning MVP Jed Colonia who on Tuesday, saw action for the first time since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament earlier this year.

“It felt great to be back playing the game that I love. I will do everything that I can as a leader, and a brother to my teammates. I have to encourage my teammates to take Andrew as an inspiration every practice and every game,” shared Colonia, who played sparingly against the Greywolves but is expected to take on an even bigger role in Velasco’s absence.

“Each one of us should step up and step out of their comfort zone. We have to double our efforts and if we did it back in 2015 with a 13-man lineup minus Andrew in the finals, I’m positive that we can also do it this year.”