PBA: JVee Casio reveals being ill during scoreless performances in finals

Published January 19, 2015 5:53pm

JVee Casio got his groove back in Game Six. KC Cruz

When JVee Casio entered the media room of the SMART-Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night for the post-game press conference, Alaska coach Alex Compton had two words to greet his star point guard.

"Welcome back."

Game Six of the Philippine Cup finals had been a redemption of sorts for Casio, as he finished with nine points to help Alaska force a Game Seven after going scoreless the past two games.

Casio attempted a total of only 10 shots in Games Four and Five, missing the mark in all of them. The team struggled to cover the gaping hole he left, and they bowed to the San Miguel Beermen in both matches.

"It's hard, it's tough to have games like that," said Casio when asked what happened the previous games. "I don't know, kinalimutan ko na. Tama na 'yun."

His coach, however, spilled the beans.

The 2011 top draft pick was not suffering from a slump after all - he performed poorly last week because he was ill.

"Sipon on game day and some stomach upsets during the game gave me some problems nung Game Four," Casio finally revealed. "Maybe recovering pa nung Game Five. Pero it's not an excuse. Ayoko sabihin kasi it's part of it."

The guard saw only 20 minutes of action in Game Four, significantly lower than his average of 27.2 minutes per game in the entire conference. He played 26 minutes in Game Five, but still could not find his rhythm.

He started slowly again in Game Six, but he finally picked up his pace in the second half. He found an open lane midway in the third quarter and drove to the basket to break his misfiring spell in the previous games.

Shortly after, he knocked down a three-pointer to unclog his jumpers, and it went smoothly from then on. Casio finished with a 4-of-8 clip in the game, slowly getting his shooting touch back.

With their starting point guard once again a steady presence in the back court, Alaska will go into the do-or-die Game Seven on Wednesday with the momentum from their 87-76 victory against San Miguel. — JST, GMA News

Tags: alaskaaces, jveecasio, pba