Guidaben to have crucial surgery soon

MANILA, Philippines—Two-time PBA Most Valuable Player and former Crispa Redmanizers star center Abet Guidaben says his body “is responding very well to steroids” and will soon be fit enough to undergo surgery.   Guidaben was in intensive care at a New Jersey hospital due to a thymus gland ailment that weakened him considerably and made it hard for him to eat or even breathe.   Doctors said he needed to be in great condition so he could undergo surgery to remove the thymus gland.   In an e-mail to the Inquirer coursed through PBA Legends USA secretary general Ruffy Ignacio, Guidaben said that a checkup next month would “assess my body’s strength for surgery.”   Guidaben told Ignacio during a telephone conversation that he needed “to strengthen my body completely before surgery is done in a month or so.”   “I cannot escape surgery except in case of a miracle,” he added.   The soft-spoken Guidaben reiterated his gratitude to San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang who, upon learning of Guidaben’s  predicament donated $5,000, and the PBA board of governors under chair Rene Pardo, who also donated $5,000.