Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Meralco finally won after dropping Games 1 and 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals but lost its starting forward Ranidel de Ocampo in the process.
De Ocampo hurt his left calf in the first four minutes of Game 3 and did not return.
And by the looks of it, Bolts head coach Norman Black fears de Ocampo could miss the remainder of the series.
“We have a little bit of bad news, I think we probably lost Ranidel for the rest of the series with the calf injury,” said Black after Meralco beat Barangay Ginebra, 94-81, Wednesday night.
“We’ll have him checked by a doctor but he doesn’t look very good right now,” he added.
The 35-year-old de Ocampo has been a vital piece to Meralco’s finals run and his absence is a big blow to the team’s bid to win the franchise’s first championship.
De Ocampo, who was acquired by the Bolts this conference, is averaging 9 points per game in the finals.
Fortunately for Meralco, Reynel Hugnatan stepped up with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from downtown.