Philippine Sports News and Updates

MANILA -- Rey Guevarra, the other half of Letran’s vaunted one-two punch, will not be around for the Knights in the Final Four.

The high-leaping 6’4” Guevarra tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in Letran’s 64-76 defeat to reigning three-peat titlist San Beda last Friday. The injury abruptly ends his colourful four-year stint with the Muralla-based pontifical school.

“It’s sad losing a player him like that, the team is really saddened,” said Letran coach Louie Alas.

Guevarra came to the team’s recent practice using crutches and encouraged his teammates to continue their campaign.

Guevarra’s absence means the Knights would have to do without one of the league’s best scorers when they take on the top seed in the Final Four.

It could be either the San Sebastian Stags, the four-peat seeking San Beda Lions, or the Jose Rizal Bombers, last year’s losing finalists.

Guevarra’s absence would also mean more responsibility, both scoring and leadership, for team captain and fellow Smart Gilas Pilipinas standout RJ Jazul.

“The team is recovering well, I expect everyone to get better when we practice,” said Alas.

Guevarra suffered the season-ending injury in the dying seconds of their game with the Lions when he took a bad fall after colliding against American giant Sudan Daniel.

It ended four productive seasons for Guevarra, who averaged his league best 15.7 points this year.

Guevarra was also slam dunk champion in the Adidas 3-on-3 twice (2004 and 2005), in the Bantay Bata UAAP-NCAA All-Star (2005 and 2007), and in the PBL Unity Cup (2006).

He will have to sit out a minimum of six and maximum of seven months before rejoining Smart Gilas Pilipinas under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

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