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Shifty guard Kean Baclaan becomes the latest addition to DLSU’s injury woes.
DLSU’s path to redemption just got rockier after its injury woes grew deeper midway through the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Four days after Mason Amos’ knee injury, guard Kean Baclaan became the latest Green Archer to join the injury list, also suffering a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear in his left knee, according to multiple reports.
Baclaan’s knee was inadvertently hit by UE’s Wello Lingolingo last Wednesday, Oct. 15, during a loose-ball scramble late into the DLSU’s 111-110 escape over the Red Warriors. With 4:20 left in the final period, Lingolingo dove for the ball and accidentally landed on Baclaan’s left knee during the mad scramble.
In an emotional Facebook post on Thursday, October 16, Baclaan announced that he will be out for the rest of Season 88, with MCL tears taking an average of six weeks to heal, depending on the severity.
“This is what I prepared and worked hard for the whole year, and now it’s suddenly gone just like that. I just want to say that I’m out for the entire season, and this isn’t what I wanted or expected to happen,” Baclaan said.
Baclaan was stretchered off the court following the incident, and had to leave the SM Mall of Asia Arena in a wheelchair, immediately undergoing an MRI on the injured knee late on Wednesday.
“I cried so much last night and felt really down about my situation, but I just kept thinking about my future for my family and my career,” Baclaan lamented.
Kean Baclaan is averaging 10.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in five games played off the Archers’ bench for UAAP Season 88, and was DLSU’s third leading scorer behind Jacob Cortez and captain Mike Phillips before the injury.
The fourth-year guard now looks forward to a stronger comeback for Season 89, which will be his final year wearing the Green and White.
“To the DLSU community and everyone who’s been worried about me, I truly appreciate all your care and concern. Thank you so much to everyone who messaged and called to check up on me. Please don’t worry, I’ll come back stronger and finish my last year at DLSU,” he concluded.
DLSU, meanwhile, will look to turn their fortunes around under the leadership of Cortez and Phillips for the rest of Season 88.
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.