UP’s Josh Coronel, LA Andres suffer ACL injuries

The UP Fighting Maroons were dealt a heavy blow as wingmen Josh Coronel and LA Andres each suffered a torn ACL injury that will keep them sidelined for UAAP Season 87, both players confirmed to All-Star Magazine on Wednesday, May 8.

Coronel and Andres underwent surgery last week and are expected to make a full recovery following a rehabilitation process that will last for at least the next eight months.

This is the second time that Coronel, a multi-talented 6-foot-4 prospect, will have to go through the challenging remedy for suffering such an injury. He sat out his final season with La Salle Greenhills in the NCAA and UAAP Season 86 with University of the Philippines last year after tearing his ACL late in 2022.

Coronel tore his ACL this time thanks to what he called a “freak incident” during a scrimmage game in February.

Andres, an athletic 6-foot-3 forward, didn’t make the final cut for UP’s line-up in Season 86 but had a better chance of doing so before tearing his ACL during a recent practice session.

Despite the injury, both players remain in good spirits as they attempt a comeback.

“It was really frustrating and heartbreaking at first because I was already excited to get back to playing. It was hard to think that I’d have to do it all over again, but with another freak accident, I thought that God wanted to me to wait a little more to maybe work on more stuff within me and I know that is all part of His plan,” Coronel said in an exclusive interview.

“I just say to myself that I have gone through it before, so it’s not impossible for me to get through it again. At least now, I know how the process would be and this time I will just have to make it better. I’ll just keep the faith and keep going.”

Andres’ approach is similar to Coronel’s mindset.

“My family, my teammates, and my girlfriend have been very sorry for what happened but all I can tell them is that this was God’s plan and in God’s perfect time,” he said. “The coaches have been very supportive in my recovery process and they have been helping me throughout this especially financially wise. It helps that I have someone to journey through this with me like Josh.”

Andres added that he’s positive because he still has five years of playing eligibility left in the UAAP and that other notable collegiate student-athletes such as CJ Cansino and Josh David made their way back to the basketball court after being sidelined by a similar injury.

UP also recently lost incoming sophomore big man Seven Gagate to a fractured hand. He won’t require surgery although he will have to wear a cast for the next two months before beginning rehabilitation that will last somewhere between the next three to six months.

Elsewhere in the UAAP former De La Salle Zobel standout Rhyle Melencio will have to wait another season before making his Green Archers debut after also suffering a second straight torn ACL injury.

Photo courtesy of: Steve Marion