PBA should’ve done this before

It came late but it’s nonetheless brilliant.

One report on Monday said the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has tapped physicians and physical therapists to help the pro league find ways to avoid injuries.

Together with team skippers, a team will be formed that will be in consultation with international sports medicine expert Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, a member of the Fiba (international basketball association) Medical Commission.

Dr. Canlas, the only Asian in the powerful body, is a consistent outstanding awardee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The PBA was severely hit by injuries in the last Philippine Cup.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said they’re looking for ways to lessen the injuries.

“We’re sad for our players, we definitely need help,” Marcial said.

Marcial said  Dr.Canlas is also sharing with the PBA a new cardio check-up.

Marcial may have to go further and seek the help of Dr. Canlas in devising a program that will help in the general uplift and wellness of the PBA.

It’s not known to many, but Dr. Canlas was among the first to single out Olympic weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz as a solid medal potential the moment he set his eyes on the diminutive aspirant from the grassroots.

Dr. Canlas, a tried-and-tested therapist and healer, knows fully well how sports medicine and the full development of specific muscles for each particular Olympic discipline could fully enhance an athlete’s performance.

Out in his clinic at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, there’s a regular line of patients, including football players from Thailand and Vietnam, vying to be treated by Dr. Canlas.

There are similarly busy scenes in his clinic at St. Luke’s Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

It’s just too bad that the previous Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) leadership under Peping Cojuangco had decided to dissolve the Sports Medicine Association of the Philippines (SMAP) center at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

SMAP was wholeheartedly serving the needs of national athletes and Philippines sports as a whole under Dr. Canlas until it was atrociously sent away.