By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
What an unfortunate time for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Looking to build its championship momentum heading into the 48th season of the PBA, the prized basketball franchise suffered its first major setback after star shooting guard Jeremiah Gray will most likely be out for at least a year.
Initially, Gray was diagnosed with a dislocated knee injury after the incident during their game against the NLEX Road Warriors last July 30, 2023.
In their PBA On Tour clash, Gray went down in the last 26 seconds of the third quarter after going for a breakaway layup.
Seconds after the sequence, the former no. 2 pick of the PBA Rookie Draft suddenly screamed in pain and was seen holding his right knee.
His teammates, coaches, and the opposing team’s members were then left speechless as Gray continued to shout and grimace in pain.
The medical team then rushed to put Gray on a stretcher and was admitted to the Medical City hospital for further examination.
Head coach Tim Cone then confirmed that Gray had a dislocated knee but last August 9, 2023, added medical findings revealed that the guard also damaged his anterior cruciate (ACL), medial collateral (MCL), and posterior cruciate (PCL) ligaments.
With the severity of his knee injury, Gray will be scheduled for a major knee operation this month and will be undergoing strict rehabilitation in the following months.
Several years ago, Gray already injured the same knee after getting diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Fortunately, Gray finally made his debut for the Gin Kings after a year of absence in the PBA. The former Alab Pilipinas athletic guard first suited up in the 3×3 scene of the pro league before getting promoted to the 5×5 stage.
Gray was a key factor in Ginebra’s championship run when they defeated the Bay Area Dragons during the last edition of the import-laced conference.
