PBA Draft Focus: Amer hopes injury won’t stand in way of PBA dream
Baser Amer. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
San Beda playmaker Baser Amer has been recovering from a right shoulder injury that kept him from making any mark at least through the first round of his final playing year in the NCAA.
And Amer, who hasn’t had any basketball-related activity since re-injuring his shoulder in the second quarter of the Red Lions’ loss to rivals Letran Knights last July 16, feels his injury has also affected his value heading into the 2015 Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft on Sunday.
“Kinakabahan ako kasi nga hindi ako naglalaro so parang yung advantage ko dapat nawawala (I’m nervous because I haven’t been able to play so I’m losing the advantage that I have),” admitted Amer, who is eyeing to return to San Beda midway through the second round of eliminations.
“Kasama na yun doon, so ang ginagawa ko lang focus on my therapy and conditioning,” the 22-year-old said when asked if he was worried about teams passing up on him during the 2015 Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft on August 23 due to his injury.
The Davao native also believes he could fit in best with NLEX, Talk ‘N Text and Meralco, teams owned by business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, who also backs San Beda.
Talk ‘N Text selects first and is widely believed to be choosing between big men Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario. NLEX is at No. 4 while Meralco, at no. 7, could draft Amer to bolster its point guard rotation.
But for now, Amer said his mind is fixed on coming back from injury to help the Red Lions win their sixth straight championship.
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