Baser Amer returns to action for San Beda. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Baser Amer, in jeans and a red shirt, reeled in the atmosphere of NCAA basketball as Mapua and San Sebastian took the San Juan Arena court.
The Red Lions were about face Jose Rizal University in the second game, and it was Amer’s first time to don his Red and white jersey after more than a month of recovering from a shoulder injury.
He wasn’t included on the starters but got the chance to set foot on the court he usually owned again in the 8:42 mark of the second quarter.
For the whole time he played in the second quarter, Baser registered three rebounds and four assists. He finished the game with four rebounds and five assists.
Amer said being away for seven weeks made him miss the game that made him a household name.
“I was so happy, I’ve missed playing,” Amer said. “This is my last year, I want to make it special.”
Red Lions head coach Jamike Jarin said with Amer back in the fold, he has another leader on the court to rely on aside from co-captain Art De La Cruz.
“Baser’s return is really big,” Jarin said. “His leadership, demeanor, and winning attitude you can’t coach that.”
Amer attempted four shots in his return, three from beyond the arc, but nine games out gave him the typical jitters after a long absence due to injury.
“It’s still not at a hundred percent, I’m still continuing my therapy in Ateneo, maybe I’m at 90 percent,” Amer said of his injury he sustained in a game against Letran on July 16.
Still, Amer knew he was set to be reinstated into the lineup in the game against JRU after the doctors advised him and Jarin he would be good to go.
“When the doctor said I’m good to go, I knew I had to be ready.”