Kobe Monje recovers from injury to step up for Letran Knights in preseason

Letran’s Kobe Monje during a PBA D-League game. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—The preseason may have taken its toll on Letran’s Kobe Monje but he is slowly gaining back his groove on offense.

During the Knights’ 85-73 win over Guang Ming College in the stepladder of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, Monje chipped in 18 points to give them a bigger chance of advancing to the next round.

“I just want to do whatever is assigned to me by coach (Rensy Bajar) whether it be rebound, defense, or score, as long as it helps the team,” he said.

The scoring breakout came after Monje suffered lower back pain during Letran’s D-League stint that hindered him from playing more minutes.

Though not as serious as expected, Monje said that he was still feeling pain during the previous games of the preseason but is now at a “hundred percent.”

“I couldn’t really move my left leg during the D-League because of cramps in my lower back. It hurt a lot but I’m at a hundred percent now,” the second-year cager explained.

Bajar also lauded the forward for his contribution to the victory, which was a testament to his resiliency to get back on the playing court at a hundred percent.

“For the past few weeks, Kobe was really injured but at least now, he showed up in a good way which really helped the team,” the mentor said.

During the preseason, Monje is posting norms of 11.3 markers, 4.8 boards and 1.7 dimes per game in 25 minutes.