UAAP: Injured Nic Cabañero eyes to play in UST’s season-ender vs La Salle
MANILA, Philippines — Nic Cabañero sat out the University of Santo Tomas’ loss to Far Eastern University due to a sprained right ankle on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
UST sorely missed its scorer, who picked up the injury in last Wednesday’s loss to defending champions University of the Philippines, where the Growling Tigers suffered their 11th straight loss after opening the season. award with a win.
Cabañero, who was wearing street clothes sitting behind the UST bench, said he wanted to play because of his injury but the team’s coach and physiotherapist advised him to rest.
“I want to compete but I have to rest because my ankle is still swollen,” the second-year Filipino said after the match. UST dropped to 1-12 after a 77-62 defeat at the hands of the FEU. “There are no broken bones. It depends on me whether I will play or not. But our PT and coach wanted me to sit out this section.
Ivan Lazarte was promoted in Cabañero’s absence with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals but UST needed more than that to stop his free fall.
Cabañero, who is averaging 17.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, hopes to take on La Salle on Wednesday and finish well with a win.
“I can play on Wednesday. I can still feel the pain but it’s better than last Wednesday when I got the injury,” he said. “I want to win the next game for us and for me. We are eyeing a great exit to bolster our confidence for the upcoming season.”
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