Barangay Ginebra may have escaped the quarterfinals with a heart-stopping win, but coach Tim Cone admits the celebration came with a lingering worry: whether Jayson David will be healthy enough to suit up for the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup.
David dislocated his right shoulder late in regulation of Ginebra’s dramatic 99-98 comeback over Converge, an injury that now threatens to derail the Kings’ title hopes just days before their best-of-seven showdown with defending champion San Miguel Beermen.
The 6-foot-3 forward was in the middle of one of his most impactful games of the conference, tallying 13 points, two assists, and two steals off the bench before a bad fall on a transition play forced him out in the final four minutes.
“It’s going to be a big blow for us if he’s going to be out for a time,” Cone said, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding David’s recovery. “Apparently, his shoulder came all the way out, so we don’t know how long it’s going to take before he can play again. That was a bad injury.”
The setback is particularly painful given how far David has come. Once stuck on the reserved list last season, the former Lyceum standout has carved out a steady role in Ginebra’s rotation, averaging 5.8 points and 3.5 assists in the season-opening conference while providing energy and defense whenever called upon.
David left the arena with his right arm in a sling but remains hopeful he can recover in time for the semifinals, which tip off on Jan. 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For Cone, David’s absence would be more than just a rotation issue—it could tilt the balance against the top-seeded Beermen.
“He’s been playing both ends of the floor really well for us,” Cone said. “Outside of RJ, he’s been our sixth or seventh man off the bench. So if we don’t have him in the next series, that’s a big loss for us.”
As Ginebra prepares for another high-stakes duel with San Miguel, the Kings can only wait—and hope—that David’s shoulder heals quickly enough to keep their championship push alive.