Angel Canino ‘okay’ after scary neck injury, mother Sol reassures fans

MANILA, Philippines – Sol Canino took to social media to reassure fans that her daughter Angel is recovering well after an unfortunate and accidental clash with teammate Shevana Laput in the fourth set of La Salle’s eventual five-frame thriller escape of UST on Saturday, March 29.

“Hi everyone. Angel is ok,” the Canino matriarch wrote. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all your well wishes and heartfelt prayers. God bless us all po!”

While the elder Canino did not provide further specifics, all that matters for now is that her daughter did not suffer complications especially after her scary exit immediately after winning against UST, as Angel was seen leaving in an ambulance for further examination and did not join La Salle’s postgame huddles.

Laput inadvertently struck the younger Canino on the back of her head with her knee very early in the fourth set, stayed on to play most of the frame, before eventually being subbed out.

She then played the entire fifth set before being helped off the floor at the end of the neck-and-neck affair.

It remains to be seen whether or not Canino will be fielded in the Lady Spikers’ rivalry assignment against Ateneo on Wednesday, April 2, or if the league will intervene with some sort of concussion protocol given the serious nature of the neck injury.

La Salle currently has some cushion should Canino miss some time, as it sits in second place at 6-3 in the standings tied with FEU with five games left in the elimination round.

Shane Reterta and Alleiah Malaluan stand to shoulder the massive offensive burden should the former MVP sit out a while ahead of another Final Four push for the contending Lady Spikers. – Rappler.com