Leave it to Dondi

SONDRIO–Why isn’t Noy Castillo in the Philippine national basketball team lineup for this Italian campaign? He stayed home to undergo twice-a-day therapy on his right foot but Andy Seigle and Danny Ildefonso made the trip despite not being able to play because of nagging injuries.

Trainer Dondi Narciso explained Castillo’s absence. He said Castillo had surgery to relieve the pain in his arthritic right big toe and arch late last year at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Inglewood where the Los Angeles Lakers go for medical treatment. Castillo’s toe had become stiff and lost its flexibility. Doctors cut a bone to create a wedge for the toe to loosen.

Aside from the toe, Castillo also felt pain in his arch. So doctors released the plantar fascia to eliminate the pain. Castillo was placed in a cast from below the knee to the foot and was immobilized for a month after surgery. As a result, the muscles in his right foot atrophied and that’s why he’s now undergoing rehab.

Narciso said Purefoods trainer Roy Lazaro accompanied Castillo for the operation in the US to learn from the Kerlan-Jobe experts. Lazaro now supervises Castillo’s training regimen which is split into mobility exercises in the morning at the clinic and agility drills in the afternoon on the court.

Narciso said Castillo should be ready to play in the second week of the coming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup which starts June 16. The key is not to be impatient and not to rush things, noted Narciso.

As for Ildefonso, he complained of pain in the arch of his left foot and was checked out at Kerlan-Jobe, too. Unlike Castillo’s condition, doctors said Ildefonso didn’t require surgery, only rehab. Narciso said he’s trying out a new style of low-dye taping to protect Ildefonso’s arch and it looks like the trick is working. Ildefonso should be cleared to play in the Second Conference. But for the Italy games, coach Joseph Uichico decided to sit out Ildefonso so he can concentrate on his drills.

Seigle strained his back in the last Conference. Like Ildefonso and Castillo, he’s undergoing intensive therapy. Kerlan-Jobe doctors advised no surgery. Here, Seigle runs and goes through specialized flexibility exercises for his back.

Narciso is optimistic of a complete recovery for the trio within the month.

Narciso, 32, earned a physical therapy degree at the University of Santo Tomas in 1993. He joined the San Miguel Beer team three years later. Narciso and wife Aileen are blessed with three kids–Miko, 12, Gabriel, 8, and Joshua, 7.

Narciso, whose parents Francisco and Carmen are prominent doctors, established a physical therapy clinic with Lazaro and Talk ‘N Text trainer Eski Feria at the Green Valley Country Club in Pasig last year. The group, whose consultant is Dr. Jose Raul (George) Canlas, specializes in treating sports injuries and lists among its clients, golfers, tennis players, a motocross driver, and of course, basketball players.

Narciso said the Philippines’ chances in Busan are "very good if we can stay healthy." Representing the country is worth all the hard work, he added.

The Philippine team is in good hands under Narciso’s care.