De La Salle University‘s Kean Baclaan (#13) and Jacob Cortez (#11) in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final 4. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — Kean Baclaan has defied the odds, recovering from an injury that was once feared to be worse than a right MCL tear — and a setback that almost pushed him out of basketball.
The 5-foot-9 guard from Muntinlupa made his return on Wednesday after an eight-game absence as De La Salle University dumped National University, 87–77, in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final 4 to force a decider on Saturday.
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Baclaan finished with six points and two assists in over 19 minutes of action, but the first-year Archer admitted that at one point, he thought a comeback might not even be possible.
“Syempre, tatay na ako eh. Right after na na-injure ako, yung feeling ko parang ayoko na mag-basketball,” said Baclaan, who has a daughter. “Sabi ko: ‘Ayoko na, ayoko na.’”
He returned to his hometown to begin his recovery, but even being surrounded by the people closest to him did little to ease the emotional burden.
“Hindi pa ako nag-therapy nung first one or two weeks, iyak ako nang iyak,” said Baclaan, who was inadvertently injured by University of the East’s Wello Lingolingo in the first round. “‘Bakit sa akin pa nangyayari?’ Pero syempre, hindi naman natin akalain na ganyan, and accident naman.”
Baclaan described the pain as 100 out of 100, which made him fear the injury was far more severe than an MCL issue.
“Sobrang sakit talaga. Akala ko nga, nung nangyari sa’kin yun, parang lumabas yung buto. Ganun yung na-feel ko,” he said.
But when he saw his La Salle teammates competing for him upon his return to Taft Avenue, the pain slowly turned into motivation to recover and eventually return.
“Initial finding, surgery eh. Pero hindi ako pumayag kasi pag nag-surgery ako, hindi rin ako makakalaro next season,” he said.
“So sabi ko, second opinion, kahit third opinion pa yan, basta hindi ako magpa-surgery. Good thing naman, nung second MRI ko, hindi kailangan operahan. Recovery lang for four to six weeks,” he added.
While Baclaan remains cautious, noting that he is still only about 95 percent, the star guard is determined to repay the trust and patience of his team
“Ito lang yung first time ulit na complete kami,” he said. “So extra-motivated ako, at ready lang kami kung ano pa yung challenge na darating.”