PBA: RR Garcia makes up for lost time, sizzles in return

RR Garcia for Phoenix Fuel Masters. PBA IMAGES

RR Garcia returned on Wednesday after being sidelined for two months due to a dislocated shoulder.

Garcia, the Phoenix guard, played his first game since hurting his right shoulder on Dec. 3 and he immediately made up for lost time with a career game.

The 26-year-old Garcia couldn’t have thought of a better script for his return than how his comeback turned out. He scored a personal-best 33 points to lead the Fuel Masters over the NLEX Road Warriors in their PBA debut.

“It was our first game and the first with a new name. We just showed our management that want to reward their support,” Garcia told reporters in Filipino after Phoenix’s 118-106 victory. “The management talked to us and we were inspired to really win the game.”

Garcia missed the rest of his team’s 2016 Philippine Cup after being one of the leaders in the first eight games of the season due to the shoulder injury.

Garcia quickly put the past behind him and set his focus on the Commissioner’s Cup.

“I didn’t really think about the injury and what happened anymore because it really hurts. I just want to play and focus on my rehab to get ready. I didn’t want to think about it because if I think about it nothing good will happen,” Garcia said.

Phoenix head coach Koy Banal couldn’t be more grateful to see Garcia back on the floor and doing what he does best.

“We missed RR. We missed that kind of spunk in our team. Down the stretch last conference, RR wasn’t able to play especially in the playoffs. We missed him so much. he also likewise missed playing in the PBA that’s why he was so pumped up. RR is a different kind of animal,” Banal said.