Peek is ready to rumble

Talk ’N Text’s veteran center Ali Peek has been given clearance by his doctors to play again in the PBA Philippine Cup nearly two months after he was shot in the nape by a still unidentified gunman inside the RFM gym parking lot in Mandaluyong City.

“He’s cleared to play again,” said TNT team manager Aboy Castro in a phone interview with the Bulletin yesterday.

Castro said that the massive 6-foot-4 Peek had his final test by doctors at the Medical City in Ortigas, Pasig City, including an angiogram. It was actually the second test done to the 36-year-old cager who is in his 13th year in the pro league.

Early this month, Peek, who averaged 8.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 shot blocks through six games with TNT, went to the United States to have a second opinion on his injury.

Days after the shooting incident, Peek and his family opted not to go under the knife to remove the lodged bullet in his nape, which was then a concern that it might paralyze him or kill him if he returns to basketball.

However, all these, according to Castro have been carefully studied by doctors here and abroad.

“The doctors in the US gave him clearance. The test done here (last Tuesday) was just confirmatory, since it was part of the process. It will take just a few days for him to rest after the test. He’ll rejoin the team on Monday,” Castro said.

“Well, we need him in the semifinals. His presence will be a big help to the team,” added Castro as TNT will face Petron Blaze in the best-of-seven semifinal series starting Jan. 5, 2012.

source by Walon Galvez, mb.com.ph

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Ali Peek awaits final test

Talk ‘N Text center Ali Peek has perhaps chosen the path with the lesser peril, opting to keep the bullet where it is currently lodged, in the nape where he was shot by an unknown assailant last November 7 as he emerged from a Mandaluyong gym.

His other choice was to have surgery to remove the bullet. But that, too, involved some danger and doctors would not operate unless they get a waiver from the patient.

The wound has fully healed and he reported for practice last Monday at the Moro Lorenzo gym in Ateneo with the intention of being ready for TNT’s semifinal opener against Petron next week.

It was not the kind of hard training his teammates were doing. For instance, there was no scrimmage, no contact, just shooting drills for the center.

His condition is not even day-to-day. Before any hard drill or contact game, Peek must have one more clearance from doctors before he can plunge to real training.

With the bullet still there, lodged near his spinal cord, he’d been told that his condition is dangerous. A hard hit on the nape or a hard fall may move the bullet and hit his spinal cord and if this happens, there is danger of paralysis.

Yesterday, TNT mentor Chot Reyes told the Bulletin that the 6-foot-4 Peek will have a “final round of test” to be conducted by his doctors at the Medical City in Ortigas, Pasig City.

“If he’s cleared, he’ll start practicing again (on Thursday),” said Reyes.

Talk ’N Text assistant coach Nash Racela said that last Monday, Peek had a light training, doing mostly shooting drills. If Peek will be given the ‘‘green light’’ by his doctors, he will join tomorrow’s full practice as TNT prepares for its best-of-seven semifinal series with Petron Blaze.

Prior to the shooting incident, Peek averaged 8.5 points and 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 shots blocks (tied for second with Arwind Santos of Petron) through six games with TNT.

Until now, despite the release of an artist’s sketch and a P500,000 reward posted by team owner Manny V. Pangilinan, authorities have yet to arrest any suspect or determine any motive for the shooting.

By Waylon Galvez, mb.com.ph

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