Azkal Aly Borromeo: on the long road back to the pitch
“For a while I couldn't even watch Football on TV” admits Aly Borromeo. Such was the pain of not being able to play the sport the former Azkal captain loves so much.
The 30-year-old former defender is sitting in the Starbucks in the ABS-CBN complex. It's an Azkals gameday versus Indonesia But instead of being on the pitch, Borromeo is hours away from commentating the match with me on TV.
Dressed in a pink dress shirt and slacks, the central defender seems at peace, even though he hasn't played much competitive Football in twenty two months. He hasn't kicked a ball since February.
Borromeo says that his retreat to Australia for his recovery is similar to what NBA star Derrick Rose did when he blew out his knee and reportedly rehabbed in Los Angeles instead of Chicago.
“I had to get out of here.”
Captain Aly felt he could focus more without the incessant questions about his recovery from knee surgery, which was necessitated during Kaya's fateful UFL Cup match against Diliman on October 15, 2011 in Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
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A Jinggoy Valmayor goal opened scoring for the underdog UP alumni team before Kaya struck twice to win. But during the game Borromeo leaped to avoid Diliman forward Ariel Zerrudo. His right leg landed awkwardly, and he crumpled to the ground in pain.
It wasn't his first time to feel a knee buckle. In the 2007 AFF Championship in Thailand he blew out his left knee minutes into the Azkals first match against Malaysia while defending the left flank in the Supachalasai stadium.
Off the ensuing cross, Hairuddin Omar scored for the Harimau Malaya.
They lost that game 4-0, fell by the same score to Thailand in the next game, then battled Myanmar to a 0-0 draw in their final group match.
This time, it was Borromeo's right knee that betrayed him. It was the dreaded ACL tear once again.
The Philippines were suddenly without their rock in central defense. Fortunately the captain's injury paved the way for Jason Sabio to emerge as a quality International defender for the Philippine team.
Borromeo went into his rehabilitation with the ferocity he usually reserves for neutralizing strikers.
In the 2012 UFL league he felt good enough to come on as a sub for Kaya in his old spot as a striker. In fact he even scored an injury-time equalizing goal for Kaya against Global. But something just didn't feel right.
“I knew something was wrong. My knee just felt weak. I couldn't do simple lunges.”
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It was only a few months later that a meniscus tear was discovered. The meniscus is a cartilaginous band that attaches the femur to the tibia.
In September of last year Aly went under the knife again to repair the meniscus. Again he busted his butt in rehab. Again, the knee refused to strengthen.
It was only when he saw an Australian specialist who had vast experience working with Rugby professionals that the mystery was solved.
“He told me that my ACL was there, but that it wasn't intact. In fact, it was hanging by a thread.”
Earlier in the year I played with Aly in a pick up game in turf BGC.
“When you and I played, I had no ACL” he tells me. “Basically I was playing like an old man from June 2012 until March 2013. I only ever got to 70%.”
Last March Borromeo underwent an ACL revision surgery in Sydney, Australia, his new home, and has been rehabbing ever since. He can swim, but doesn't dare kick a ball just yet.
A quick visit to the Philippines last week allowed him to commentate the Indonesia friendly. The rest of his time is spent either in rehab for his bad wheel or finishing his course in Personal Training and Sports Nutrition in the Australian Institute of Fitness. Certainly he has taken a liking to life in Sydney, where he stays in the house of an uncle.
“I love it here. It's so relaxing. You can walk anywhere and do anything.”
Borromeo finishes his studies at the end of the year. By then he will be nine months clear. A return to Kaya for the 2014 UFL league is possible. A return to the Azkals would be welcome, and badly needed.
The Azkals have Juani Guirado and Rob Gier at their disposal at centerback, but both are well into their thirties, neither is based in the country, and the cupboard isn't exactly brimming with options when it comes to possible replacements at that most critical of positions.
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Sabio is back in the states studying law. Jason Cordova is committed to Ceres and Dynamic Builders in Bacolod and appears uninterested in national team duty. Andrew Santiago of Pachanga Diliman could be handy, but the Azkals management have ignored him. Santiago, 31, is also no spring chicken.
Boi Boi Fernandez and Deo Segunial will eventually see senior Azkal duty, but both likely need some seasoning. Ditto for 18-year old sensation Amani Aguinaldo. Jake Hugo of Green Archers has been somewhat inconsistent for Green Archers. Eduardo Gempisaw has international experience but is part of an Army defense that very nearly leaked its way into the second division last UFL season.
The versatile Carlie De Murga partnered Gier against Indonesia and did a good job, but he's also needed at right back.
An Aly Borromeo return to the national team in time for the AFC Challenge Cup Elite Eight in March 2014 would be ideal. But don't bet on it yet. The big fellow is in no hurry.
“I'll be back when I'm ready. I'm not rushing it this time around. I don't care how long it takes.”
Later on he affirms a burning desire to get fit and stay fit.
“I'm not limping off that field again.”
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
