Scary fall for the do-it-all forward.
Meralco Bolts forward Cliff Hodge chased down Rodae Hollis-Jefferson on the break after an inbound error with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Hollis-Jefferson was fouled by Chris Newsome on his way up, but Hodge was already airborne by the time that happened. He fell, with his head hitting the floor hard.
In true Cliff Hodge fashion, he brushed it off and soldiered on as the Bolts hacked out a 124-117 win over TNT Tropang Giga to tie the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals series at 1-1.
After that unfortunate play and Tropang Giga forcing an overtime, the energetic forward scored back-to-back baskets to set the tone for the Bolts in the extra period.
Aaron Black followed suit, scoring 6 quick points before import KJ McDaniels put the icing on the victory cake with an emphatic two-handed flush with 10.1 ticks remaining.
Hodge finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
When asked his status after the game, Meralco coach Norman Black said in jest: “He’s a bionic man so I think he’s OK.”
Turning serious, he added they will have his head checked right away to make sure he’s OK.
“He did hit his head very hard on the floor. It takes a lot to keep Cliff Hodge down. Really a bionic man actually,” he said.