DJ Kennedy sat out Meralco’s match against Blackwater, which carved out the upset in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Meralco had to play without an import as it succumbed to Blackwater, 98-114, to get a first taste of loss in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday, Dec. 12.
The Bolts thus slipped to 3-1 while rewarding the Bossing with its first win in four tries.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo later revealed stand-in reinforcement DJ Kennedy is nursing a calf injury, leaving the coaching staff no choice but to sit the latter out for precautions.
“May nararamdaman sa calf. So, just taking some precautions,” said Trillo when asked about Kennedy after the match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate.
Stepping in for the injured Akil Mitchell, Kennedy wanted to play in Thursday’s game. He did suit up but did not see action.
But team staff advised Trillo not to field the import as it would risk aggravating his injury.
“He wanted to play today. But, just talking to our support staff, sabi niya, if we play him (Kennedy), we risk him getting more injured. So opted out to play,” said Trillo.
Kennedy joins the growing list of injured players for the Bolts which includes Raymond Almazan, Chris Banchero, Allein Maliksi, CJ Cansino and Jolo Mendoza.
But Kennedy, Trillo added, is highly likely to play when the Bolts take on Busan KCC Egis in the East Asia Super League on Dec. 18 in South Korea.