No photos, please

There was a "no visitors" sign outside Purefoods forward Eugene Tejada’s room at the Makati Medical Center the day before his surgery yesterday. Doctors suggested the restriction to prevent undue exposure to lots of people because of the possibility of infection and to allow maximum rest.

One other thing, photographs can’t be taken of Tejada. That was advised by Rene Pardo, Purefoods representative to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Board of Governors. Tejada himself agreed, saying he wouldn’t like the public to see him in his condition. His father Danny concurred.

A Purefoods cager took a shot of Tejada on his cellphone during a visit the other day but deleted it when informed of the "no photo" policy.

"When I can sit up and talk straight into the camera, I’ll welcome the media," said Tejada. "Not before. I hope the media understands."

A TV network asked permission from Tejada to film the run-up to the surgery but his family politely declined. The request was to shoot Tejada being wheeled into the operating room.

Tejada suffered a dislocation of his cervical vertebrae during a bad fall in Purefoods’ game against Red Bull at the Ynares Center in Antipolo last Sunday. Within hours of the accident, Tejada was fitted with a neck brace and a traction clamp on his head. He said he felt a relieving pop in his neck after the traction clamp was placed on both sides of his skull.

Tejada’s injury is rare in basketball. Athletes in football, rugby, ice hockey and wrestling are more prone to spinal damage because of the physical nature of their sports.

Pro wrestling diva Lita sustained three cracks in her cervical spine, isolated to c6 and c7, in 2002 and took a 1-1/2 year leave to recuperate from surgery. Today, she’s back in action, breaking other wrestlers" bones in the ring.

Another pro wrestler "Stone Cold" Steve Austin suffered a similar injury during a match against Owen Hart several years ago. He recovered from temporary paralysis and is now semi-retired but has complete control of his motor and sensory abilities.

Pro football star Sterling Sharpe also went down with a neck injury in 1994. He was the Green Bay Packers’ first round pick in the 1988 draft. Sharpe retired after the accident and became a TV commentator.

A long rehabilitation period awaits Tejada. Full recovery is possible and Tejada may be able to make a comeback to the PBA since he’s only 25. Strength and conditioning coach Kirk Collier told PBA commissioner Noli Eala he’s optimistic of a return to action.

Resuming his PBA career, however, is not on Tejada’s mind at the moment. "If I play again, maybe it’ll just be for recreation and all I’ll do is to take jumpshots," he joked in his hospital bed.

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PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon clarified yesterday that a playoff will be held in case of a tie for fifth spot or the third and last outright quarterfinals slot in the ongoing Philippine Cup.

There would’ve also been a playoff for the second spot if Red Bull or Barangay Ginebra tied Purefoods at the end of the double-round classifications. As it turned out, Purefoods beat Talk ‘N’ Text to reach the magic number of 11 wins last Wednesday and earned an automatic semifinals berth. No playoff will be necessary since neither Red Bull nor Ginebra is able to reach 11 wins even assuming they sweep their remaining assignments.

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From Los Angeles, ABS-CBN sports reporter Dyan Castillejo-Garcia texted yesterday to report that Oscar Larios is working hard in Guadalajara to prepare for his big fight against Manny Pacquiao at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2.

"Larios is very determined and super working hard to win what he calls the fight of his life," said Dyan. "He runs early morning then boxes two hours in the afternoon. At nights, he does weights to build muscle to go up to 130 pounds. He’s a very likable guy."

Dyan spent five days in Guadalajara to monitor Larios’ training and even interviewed his father Teodoro, a former Mexican state lightweight champion.

"I met his dad who is still working in construction," said Dyan. "They’re very humble and friendly people. Larios, his father and uncle built their house in Guadalajara."

Dyan said Pacquiao begins training at the Wild Card Gym today. She said several Filipino fighters are now working out at Freddie Roach’s sweat shop. Bobby Pacquiao, Z Gorres, Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista and World Boxing Council lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria are the Filipinos in Roach’s care.

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La Salle alumnus Perry Uy, a staunch supporter of the school’s senior varsity basketball program, promised that the Green Archers will be back with a bang after their suspension from play in the UAAP this season.

"The team is in full practice mode and alumni are supporting the players," said Uy who has welcomed Serbian cager and La Salle Greenhills graduate Marko Batricevic to his home.

"We got our recruits and they assured me they will stay. Simon Atkins (of La Salle Zobel) is now living in my house. Now, we await the decision of La Salle but whatever they decide, I wish they would show resolve and support for teams in this crucial moment. For example, I want them

to get back Franz Pumaren now, ask our seniors like Cholo Villanueva to stay another year. By the way, there is a UAAP rule that you cannot question anymore a player’s eligibility after the first round of the season. I wonder how this negligence issue fits in with this rule."

Another La Salle alumnus Gilbert Jose sent this text: "The UAAP Board ought to be ashamed of themselves for being hypocrites. I wouldn’t have cared if they banned the basketball team for three years but other athletes should have been spared. I wonder if this is the end of the zarzuela."