Tejada condition stable after five-hour surgery

The Purefoods management said Fil-American Eugene Tejada will soon be able to sit back in bed and gradually return to normal diet following a successful five-hour surgical operation at the Makati Medical Center yesterday.

Tejada was operated on by doctors led by spine specialist David Cabatan, Orson Odulio and Dindo Isabela four days after he suffered a bad fall during a game and dislocated his cervical vertebrae.

"After surgery, we will just wait for neurologic function to recover," said Purefoods team manager and spokesperson Alvin Patrimonio.

"Physiotherapy will start soon for motor function rehabilitation," he added in a text message to The STAR.

"Surgery went smoothly. A team of doctors performed the surgery," added Patrimonio.

Before he underwent surgery, Tejada had already shown marked improvement in his movements. He was in severe pain and could hardly feel anything from the waist down after the accident.

Tejada was involved in a rebound scuffle in a game against Red Bull when he fell hard on the floor and was later on pinned by Mick Pennissi, another burly forward.

As Tejada tries to get well, Alaska Milk also tries to get better when it takes on San Miguel Beer in today’s main game of the Gran Matador PBA Philippine Cup.

The game is set at 4:40 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City where Tejada suffered the career-threatening injury. The other game at 7:35 p.m. pits Talk N’ Text vs Sta. Lucia.