Brandon Bates fights through flu to help Meralco win Game 5
Brandon Bates fights through flu to help Meralco win Game 5
BRANDON Bates played through a bad case of flu in Game Five of the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup finals on Friday.
Meralco's rookie energizer said he has been sick since Wednesday, but still practiced in preparation for the crucial contest where the Bolts were looking to avoid back-to-back defeats at the hands of the reigning champions.
Meralco's Brandon Bates and Cliff Hodge and San Miguel's Mo Tautuaa
PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
"I don’t know honestly," answered Bates, when asked how he contacted the virus. "I think it’s just the change of weather. My body, I’ve been here for a year now fully, but I just don’t think I’m prepared for it. It’s different."
It wasn't necessarily looking good in the past few days for the eighth overall pick in last year's PBA Draft.
"I’ve been throwing up. I’ve been doing the other stuff as well. I don’t really want to be too graphic," said the Meralco big man while smiling.
Not a 'flu game,' but still a good game
Bates didn’t exactly play a ‘flu game’ like Michael Jordan once famously did, but nonetheless had a respectable line of six points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field. He also had seven rebounds, all while helping defend June Mar Fajardo as usual.
San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo and Meralco's Brandon Bates
PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
The former La Salle tower even started alongside Raymond Almazan and wound up playing 27 minutes.
"Very. Very surprised," responded Bates, when asked about starting. "But that’s part of being a professional athlete. You have to be ready regardless if you are in perfect shape or not."
READ: There's no stopping - just limiting - June Mar, says Almazan
Even better for Meralco, Bates wasn’t the only player who stepped up, with Almazan, Chris Newsome, Allein Maliksi, Chris Banchero, and Bong Quinto also doing their part.
"I think it’s a testament to how we are built as a team," he said. "I’m so happy that we have excellent teammates."