MANILA, Philippines - Two-time MVP James Yap is back but Kerby Raymundo is out as B-MEG Derby Ace plays Rain or Shine in the opener of the PBA Governors Cup in Tacloban City on Saturday.
At press time, team officials were still waiting for the result of a second test undertaken by Raymundo after getting hurt in the closing seconds of their exhibition game with the Lhuillier team in Cebu last Saturday.
The initial test was not clear whether Raymundo suffered a fractured foot or just a sprain. It’s certain, though, that the 6-foot-6 center/forward is out in their road game versus Rain or Shine this weekend.
“It was such a bad break. It’s 27 seconds left to play when Kerby got hurt,” said Derby Ace top official Rene Pardo.
“Hopefully, it’s not a fracture. We don’t want to miss him long in the Governors Cup which is a short tourney,” Pardo said.
Nonetheless, Pardo said the team has high hopes for several reasons, including the return of Yap and their acquisition of a talented import in Stefhon Hannah.
Yap is back in harness after missing their last few games in the Commissioner’s Cup due to an injury.
Hannah, meanwhile, could well be a perfect fit for the team. The 6-foot-1 point guard from the University of Missouri scored 21 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter in a 101-107 loss to Barangay Ginebra in a tune-up game Monday.
“This guy is far better (than our original import prospect Courtney Beasley). And being a point guard, he fills in a big void in our roster,” said Pardo.
Hannah is a big boost to the Derby Ace backcourt crippled by an injury to Roger Yap.
Now boasting a roster beefed up by the entry of Joe Devance, Derby Ace is among the teams likely to give Talk n Text a tough challenge in its grand slam bid.
“The management has done everything possible to make the team as competitive as it can be. The guys know that, and they’re raring to give something in return,” said Pardo.
By the second week of the tourney, the team will welcome the return of Rafi Reavis, who underwent surgery in the United States.
At Powerade, former Ginebra import Chris Porter is coming in as a temporary substitute to John Nathan Williamson.
Williamson is nursing an injury, and so does top local player Gary David.
Over at Petron Blaze, import Mike Taylor is a doubtful starter after suffering a pulled hamstring also in practice.