San Sebastian College-Recoletos guard Ichie Altamirano was unable to finish his team’s game against the EAC Generals on Wednesday, as he exited the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
Altamirano’s injury occurred when he rolled his right ankle as he tried to back down EAC counterpart CJ Cadua with over seven minutes left to play in the game.
The Stags’ backcourt star laid on the ground for several minutes before being stretchered off the court with what was later reported on the broadcast to be a Grade 3 ankle sprain.
Altamirano exited the game with nine points, five rebounds, and two steals. He entered the contest averaging 10.3 points per game.
EAC head coach Oliver Bunyi expressed his apologies after the game, especially after a misunderstanding in the aftermath of the injury.
“Sa totoo lang, we will never hurt anyone. Hindi naming tinuturo ‘yon. Siguro baka di lang nalinawan si Coach (Egay Macaraya), but I still apologize dahil hindi ko rin na-control ‘yung sarili ko,” Bunyi said after the Generals’ 63-60 win.
Cadua attempted to check in on Altamirano after the play, but was shooed away by the San Sebastian coach, Macaraya. The two mentors seemed to exchange words after that, resulting in warnings and a technical.
“Si Ichie dati rin naming player so di naming magagawa ‘yon. Kahit kanino di naming magagawa ‘yon,” Bunyi added.
Ralph Robin, who topscored for EAC in the game with 27 points, also said that they did not wish to see an injury happen.
"'Yung sa nangyari kay Ichie, 'di naman namin sinasadya and hindi naman namin gustong mangyari 'yon," he added.
—JMB, GMA News
