Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Winston return hangs in limbo

- BY MARK ESCARLOTE @fromtheril­es De La Salle University top

gunner Schonny Winston’s return to action in the University Athletic Associatio­n of the Philippine­s Season 85 men’s basketball tournament remains up in the air as he slowly recovers from a calf injury.

Reduced into a mere spectator in the Green Archers’ last three games, Winston could only hope to finally get the green light for his return.

“It’s going well. Just rehabbing it, getting it stronger. Still recovering,” Winston, the top Most Valuable Player contender, said after sitting out La Salle’s 81-78 win over Adamson University on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Winston, however, has no definite timetable for his comeback.

With a 4-6 win-loss record tied with Adamson, La Salle is in dire need of collecting as many wins as it can to snatch one of the remaining three Final Four seats.

“Percentage? I don’t know right now. It’s a day-to-day thing, basically. We’re just trying to get fully healed so I can get out there to compete and help my team win,” Winston said.

La Salle will face defending champion University of the Philippine­s on Sunday.

In his seven games in the season, Winston averaged 21.29 points, 6.14 rebounds, 3.57 assists, 3.0 steals, and 0.14 blocks per game with a norm of 32.20 minutes of action.

Winston said he is proud of his teammates for stepping up in his absence to snap an alarming four-game skid.

“I’m super proud of them. That was a great win. I’m so happy we got this win,” said Winston, who is hoping to get cleared in time for their blockbuste­r battle against the semifinal-bound Fighting Maroons.

 ?? PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UAAP ?? SCHONNY Winston’s recovery from injury is painstakin­gly slow.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UAAP SCHONNY Winston’s recovery from injury is painstakin­gly slow.

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