MIAMI (AP) – Patuloy na iniinda ni Chris Bosh ang kanyang pinsala at ang plano niya sa Olympic ay isinantabi muna upang maghilom ang kanyang nararamdaman.
Sinabi ng Miami Heat forward sa USA Basketball kahapon na tumiwalag na siya mula sa konsiderasyon na maglaro sa London Games upang magkaroon ng pagkakataon na makarekober mula sa ‘strained abdominal muscle’ na pansamantalang nagpatigil sa kanya sa ilang porsiyon na itaguyod nang husto ang NBA championship. Inihayag ni Bosh ang desisyon sa pamamagitan ng kanyang agent na si Henry Thomas isang araw nang ang kanyang Heat teammate na si Dwyane Wade ay umatras rin sa Olympic sanhi naman ng mix left knee surgery.
“This injury was a pretty serious one,” ayon kay Thomas. “He was able to come back and play under the circumstances because he was trying to contribute to them winning a championship. There’s still pain. There’s still discomfort. And the real concern is if he doesn’t rest and do the rehab associated with the injury, this could become sort of a chronic thing for him.”
Inilabas ni Bosh ang statement sa pamamagitan ng USA Basketball na aniya’y kumpiyansa siya na mapagtatagumpayan ng Americans ang pagdedepensa sa kanilang gold medal.
“I am extremely disappointed to say that due to injury, I cannot represent my country,” ayon kay Bosh.
Isinagawa ni Bosh ang desisyon matapos na magpakunsulta ito kay Heat team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick at sa iba pa. Tinawagan ni Bosh, naglaro para sa “Redeem Team” na nagwagi ng gintong medalya sa 2008 Beijing Olympics, si USA Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski at team chairman Jerry Colangelo kahapon upang ipahiwatig ang kanyang sentimiyento.
“He wanted to be part of it,” giit ni Thomas. “It was a great experience in ‘08. Feels like it could be another one. The exposure he would get being part of that team is something he would like. But at the end of the day, his health going forward is more important than all of those things.”
Sinabi ni Heat President Pat Riley, nang magtapos ang NBA draft noong Biyernes, na ibibigay na nila ang desisyon sa koponan kung maglalaro sa London sanhi ng pagkawala ni Bosh.
“It’s based upon the need to rest and continue to rehab the injury,” dagdag ni Thomas. “He got his first taste of it in ‘08 and it was a great experience. But I think in talking to the doctors about it, they said you could play, but you’d be putting yourself at risk.”
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