Lyceum Pirates player JM Bravo has reassured fans and defended his teammate John Barba after Barba faced criticism for his response to Bravo’s injury during their NCAA Season 100 game against Arellano. Bravo was knocked unconscious after a head collision with Arellano’s Renzo Abiera late in the fourth quarter of the Pirates’ 91-86 loss.
Barba, in a state of panic, shook Bravo’s head in an attempt to wake him up, which drew backlash on social media. Barba acknowledged his mistake, explaining, “I panicked… I just did everything to wake him up or for him to hear me. I know what I did was wrong, but you just want to help your brother in that situation.”
Bravo was stretchered off the court and later regained consciousness in the dugout before being taken to Cardinal Santos Medical Center, where he underwent a CT scan and was cleared.
Taking to social media, Bravo expressed his support for Barba, asking the public to stop spreading negative comments. “John Barba and I are very close, and I treat him as a brother… I’m already okay and cleared,” Bravo wrote, putting to rest concerns about his condition.
Barba led Lyceum with 18 points, while Bravo contributed 17 points and eight rebounds before the injury.