Macau Giant Pandas guard Damian Chong Qui will play so long as he is able to play—that much he can guarantee.
And, on Wednesday, in Macau’s 96-92 win over the Terrafirma Dyip, he proved it unequivocally.
Chong Qui played 39 minutes for the Giant Pandas and simply took over, finishing with 29 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals to lead Macau to the victory. What made it all more impressive was that the diminutive guard played through a deep thigh contusion that, according to coach Marcus Elliott, was severe enough to keep Chong Qui out of several practices—along with De’Vondre Perry, who is nursing a bum shoulder himself.
Chong Qui Isn’t Wasting the Opportunity to Hoop
After the game, Macau’s sixth this PBA Governors’ Cup, Chong Qui was asked what keeps him going despite injury, and his response was rooted in gratefulness to the game of basketball.
“The opportunity,” said the fiery lefty. “I’m blessed to be able to wake up every day to play in the Philippines and the PBA or play anywhere in the world. So, just if I got breath in my lungs I’m gonna go out there and give everything I got.”
Chong Qui certainly gave everything he had on Wednesday, and now Macau has won two straight thanks in part to his gutsy effort and fearless shotmaking. It doesn’t mean the 5-foot-8 speedster is out of the woods yet, even if the Giant Pandas’ latest victory had him feeling good.
“I don’t feel pain,” Chong Qui answered when asked to rate the pain he was feeling in his injured thigh. “Right now I’m feeling the win. That’s the only emotion I feel right now. I’ll probably feel it tomorrow but I’m not really worried about it right now.”
That injury could be flaring up right about now—or maybe it is healing. Whatever the case, Macau will have a few days off before it returns to action on August 4 against the Titan Ultra Giant Risers.
Injured or not, expect Damian Chong Qui to suit up.
