East Rombo: The Blog with Balls

Shocking news from Philippine Daily Inquirer yesterday:

BARANGAY Ginebra’s Rodney Santos will be out for the remainder of the Philippine Basketball Association season after undergoing surgery to correct an ACL tear on the left knee.

Renowned sports surgeon Dr. Raul Canlas did the procedure and said that Santos' recovery will take at least six months. Santos sustained the injury last Sunday in Ginebra's overtime victory over the Alaska Aces.

A clutch shooter who bailed out the Kings in critical moments many times in the past, the former National Collegiate Athletics Association most valuable player from San Sebastian College was a key factor during Ginebra's back-to-back championships last season.

Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Kalani Ferreria, Sunday Salvacion, Aris Dimaunahan and rookies Michael Holper and Mark Macapagal can compensate for the absence of Santos.

"Hot Rod", as Mico Halili calls him, got injured in the fourth quarter of the game against Alaska and it was reported by Dominic Uy that Santos felt something in his knee but initial findings by doctors said that it wasn't anything serious. Then this news. :(

Rodney Santos, the 1996 2nd overall draft pick by Purefoods behind then Ginebra's Marlou Aquino, spent most of his years in the PBA with, ironically, the Alaska Milkmen from 1997 to 2002. Chot Reyes, then with Purefoods, described Santos as a "slasher", and that monicker stuck with him. He was traded to Alaska for Cris "Jumbo" "Lucky" Bolado in 1997. In a team dominated by greats Duremdes, Abbarientos, and Lastimosa, Rodney came off the bench and continued Abbarientos' pointguarding chores as he brought stability for Alaska's backcourt (and ugh, I hated him then). Rodney was traded to Purefoods again in 2003 but was shipped to Ginebra along with Andy Seigle in a three-way trade with Sta. Lucia which brought Jun Limpot (the Karl Malone of the PBA) to the Purefoods camp.

Rodney, the most veteran in the team, blossomed with Ginebra when he was inserted into the starting line-up as a versatile guard who can also play the small forward spot. With the arrival of Mike Holper on the team, Rodney was back in his ol' bench reliever role. Many times did he rescue Ginebra from defeats, including the game against Coca-cola Tigers in an out-of-town game in Saranggani Province back in 2005 PBA Philippine Cup eliminations (former home of the Socsargen Marlins of the defunct MBA). He did it again during Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup knock-out match against the San Miguel Beermen (how sweet it is!) to cap Romel Adducul's heroics. He eased Jayjay's horrible injury by unleashing a triple right into the hearts of San Miguel to give Ginebra a comfortable lead in the dying seconds of that ballgame (I WAS FREAKING THERE!!! OMG!!! Sorry, still bitter about Ginebra's loss to SMB last Sunday). Also, he shot a triple in the dying seconds of the game, right in the face of Odelle Bradley in that Christmas day game between Ginebra and Alaska back in the 2005 PBA Fiesta Conference Elimination games.

Mr. Quality Minutes of 1998 and 1999, Santos also was likened to NBA Stars such as Scottie Pippen to Kenneth Duremdes' Jordan in the Alaska camp back in 2001, just after the exodus of the core of the Alaska grandslam team during Alaska's rebuilding process. He was also likened to Robert Horry as Siot said after that Christmas day game, "If the NBA has a Robert Horry, we also have a Rodney Santos. He always kills you with a big shot at crunch time."

Rodney Santos' injury came in at the wrong time just when Ginebra is going through a change in their offensive system (see my personal blog entry here). His numbers in the Philippine Cup may be down with 6.5 points, 2.57 rebounds and 1.85 assists in 24.7 minutes in the seven games that he played, but, as his teammates would emphasize, Rodney's leadership and his willingness to take the big shots in the end game will be truly missed. Ginebra is expected to give more minutes to Sunday Salvacion, Kalani Ferreria, Mark Macapagal, as well as Aris Dimaunahan, to ease the loss of Santos.

Get well soon Rodney. This one's for you! Go Ginebra! Payt payt payt!