Romel beats Big C, rejoins Purefoods

Cancer-survivor Romel Adducul has been reactivated by Purefoods, rejoining the Tender Juicy Giants as they play the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

Adducul will be back in action after an eight-month layoff caused by a bout with nasopharyngeal cancer detected in a medical checkup after the 2007-08 All-Filipino tourney.

Rookie forward Jonathan Fernandez has been relegated to the reserve list on Adducul’s reactivation.

“He’s returned, joining us in practice for over a month now. He’s not yet back in his old form. We’ll break him in slowly,” said Purefoods governor Rene Pardo.

“The team’s morale is down. It might help if the team sees a cancer-survivor gutting it out on the court,” Pardo added.

The Giants are running eighth in the all-Filipino tourney, having lost their last two games.

No one faced a bigger trial last season in the league than the former NCAA star, prompting Purefoods to work on a complicated transaction, trading Marc Pingris to San Miguel Beer for Enrico Villanueva with Coca-Cola acting as the third party in the deal.

Adducul overcame the Big C after undergoing a series of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. – Nelson Beltran