Rain or Shine rookie Keith Datu was struck with a series of misfortune following an impressive debut in the Commissioner’s Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Datu’s agent, Anton Altamirano, admitted that the 27-year-old forward suffered pneumonia that prompted him to miss their recent matches in the season-opening conference.
Before contracting pneumonia, Datu was sidelined by a knee injury brought by calcium deposits and went under the weather.
“He just got out of the hospital last Thursday. He was confined for four days,” Altamirano, the son of multi-titled mentor Eric Altamirano, said.
“He was a little under the weather and rejoined the Rain or Shine practice when we found out that he had pneumonia.”
The 6-foot-8 former 3×3 standout had an impressive debut, finishing with 16 points and five rebounds when Rain or Shine absorbed a heartbreaking 102-107 loss to Meralco last 8 November at the Philsports Arena.
With Datu out, Rain or Shine got battered in the shaded lanes, prompting it to lose five of its first six games to drop to the cellar of the team standings.
The Elasto Painters are hoping to activate Datu as soon as he regains his full strength.
