PBA: Javee Mocon finds way back to Phoenix rotation after injury hiatus

Returning Phoenix star Javee Mocon. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Javee Mocon played his first game back from a bone spurs procedure on Saturday night and the result was pretty much convincing. Both for his team and himself.

The Phoenix guard wound up with 13 points in the 125-100 rout of Terrafirma at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, hardly looking like a guy who was decomissioned for months.

“I feel like we were also lucky as Terrafirma was coming off back-to-back games. They (the Dyip) are tired,” he told reporters on the way out of the Big Dome.

“I’m just glad that I’m able to return. It’s been too long. I haven’t been practicing for two months. It was only this week—four times in total—that I got to practice. I’m just thankful to the Lord that I wasn’t also rusty,” he went on.

Mocon also added two rebounds and four assists to his name in a play that he hopes he could sustain as Phoenix brace for five more playdates in a bid to turn its conference around.

“I think nutrition was a big factor since I wasn’t really running around. A lot of rehab, and doing nothing heavy since my knee was swelling,” the 27-year-old guard said.

Mocon insists he’s far from tip-top shape. He pegged himself at just 80 percent, still dealing with occasional pain.

But he is hoping that a pal’s blueprint to recovery would pay dividends.

“A big model for me during injury was (Robert) Bolick. When he went back from an injury, he was fit and ready to play right away,” he added of the NorthPort guard, whom he played alongside and won three straight titles with at San Beda.

Phoenix and Mocon take on Converge next.

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