Marcio Lassiter (SMB) vs JV Casio (Alaska). PBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Alaska guard JVee Casio played through a bad case of sinusitis in Games 4 and 5 of the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Casio was held scoreless for the first time in his career last Wednesday in Game 4 and again wasn’t able to register a point two days later in Game 5.
Reporters wanted answers from Casio and his coach Alex Compton following the fourth-year player’s successive scoreless stints but both kept mum about it.
Compton, though, finally revealed what really went through following the Aces’ 87-76 win over the San Miguel Beermen on Sunday night that extended their championship duel to a deciding Game 7.
“JVee was sick to tell you the truth,” Compton said as he butted in while Casio was asked the same question he was asked after Game 5. “But he’s getting better as you can see. He’s been sick for two games but look at him now.”
“I got colds on game day and an upset stomach during the game and those were some problems in Game 4 and I was still recovering in Game 5,” Casio said after ending up with nine points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field, six rebounds and two assists in 31 minutes.
“I wasn’t [hospitalized], just really had sinusitis.”
Casio was 0-of-10 heading into Game 6. He missed his first three shots before ending a scoring drought in the third quarter on a drive at the 7:09 mark before sinking a triple for good measure just over a minute later.
He followed it up with four more points in the fourth quarter—a step back jumper and an inside basket—that gave Alaska its biggest lead of the series, 83-66, with under four minutes left.
Casio also said that he didn’t want to make any excuses as to why he wasn’t able to contribute the past two games which was a pair of losses that put the Aces on the ropes.
Silenced in Games 4 and 5—a pair of losses that put the Aces on the ropes—Casio made noise in a must-win Game 6 on Sunday night after being held scoreless in the past two games.
“The thing that coach Alex has been stressing to me is just to help the team out and contribute in any way I can,” Casio said. “It’s hard. Tough to have games like that. I just forgot about it and looked forward to this game.”