Injured Madarang hopes to play for Malditas in SEA Games

Malditas’ Eva Silva Madarang. INQUIRER/Marc Anthony Reyes

KUALA LUMPUR — Given the choice, Eva Silva Madarang is willing to defy the recommendations of the coaching staff and even team doctors so she can play in the Southeast Asian Games women’s football opener against host Malaysia Tuesday.

The bubbly Madarang, who hails from Thousand Oaks, California, dislocated her right elbow on Tuesdayhen the Malditas underwent training camp in Japan.

“It doesn’t hurt. But it’s stiff. The swelling is down really,” said the 19-year-old Madarang who have not joined the team in practice. “I mean I really want to play but it’s what’s best for me and what’s best for the team.”

But Team Philippines’ orthopaedic surgeon Felix Victor Gaddi didn’t recommend her to play, saying “risk outweighs” the gains.

Madarang, according to Gaddi, needs at least two months of rest. She just might be saved for the 2018 Asian Cup in Jordan.

Incidentally, the Malditas qualified in the Asian Cup following an impressive showing by Madarang who scored four goals in total in the qualifier in Tajikistan.

Assistant coach John Paul Merida said they are leaving it to head coach Marnelli Dimzon to decide on Madarang’s fate.

But Merida said they have backup strikers like Kyren Angela Dimaandal and Hali Moriah Candido Long who can step up the plate.

The young, energetic squad is bolstered by Fil-foreigns players including Madarang, Long, Faith Sean Ruetas and Patricia Tomanon and is often mentioned in the same sentence as their famous counterparts, Philippine Azkals.