Alaska’s Racal leaves bubble, set for surgery

Kevin Racal at the sidelines. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines — Alaska swingman Kevin Racal left the bubble on Wednesday after tearing his ACL in his right knee.

Racal suffered the injury during the Aces’ 100-95 loss to TNT in the opening game of the PBA restart on Oct. 11 at AUF Sports Arena & Cultural Center in Angeles, Pampanga.

“I told him that he’s going to leave, and the sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll be able to come back,” said Alaska head coach Jeff Cariaso.

“We’re just going to waste one month if he’s going to stay. That’s the plan.”

The Aces, though, gave Racal a fitting sendoff after they blew out the Blackwater Elite, 120-82, Tuesday night for their second win of the Philippine Cup.

The 29-year-old Racal, who is expected to miss at least six months, is set to undergo surgery next week.

Racal became the second player to leave the bubble after San Miguel Beer guard Terrence Romeo, who sustained a dislocated right shoulder.