Dan Seigle out of Asiad team

Only two days before its departure for Busan, Korea, the Philippine basketball team suffered a big casualty with ace forward Danny Seigle suffering an Achilles heel tear on his left foot early in the third quarter of the Philippine-Qatar exhibition game last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Nationals won the match, 78-61, but the outcome hardly soothed the sad feeling of the team and the Filipino nation after seeing the prized Fil-American hitman carried out of the venue – and, worse, out of the RP bid in the coming Asian Games.

PBA physician Ben Salud, who quickly checked on Seigle after the incident, diagnosed the Achilles heel tear. The player was then rushed to the St. Luke’s Hospital for further examination.

"It appears that he tore his left Achilles heel. Mukhang naapakan and immediately napunit ang tendon," said Salud.

"We talked to Dr (Raul) Canlas and he said it needs to be operated on immediately. It will take months to heal," Salud added.

"It’s the first time that I felt not good after winning a game. We looked really good and we’re starting to get there and suddenly this. It’s really unfortunate because he’s really a big loss," said national coach Jong Uichico.

With Seigle out, Uichico said he will name his replacement Thursday when they’re already in Busan.

Seigle’s ouster paves the way for the inclusion of one of the three reserves in Mick Pennisi, Chris Jackson and Boyet Fernandez.

Before Seigle was taken to the hospital, commissioner Jun Bernardino and San Miguel Corp. top official Henry Cojuangco were seen in serious huddle along with PBA official Ricky Palou. No one talked to the sportswriters, though.