Rejuvenated Castro sparks TNT in win vs Blackwater

MANILA, Philippines — After missing the first three games of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Jayson Castro showed up and sparked the TNT Tropang Giga over the Blackwater Bossing Thursday evening. 

Castro, who missed TNT’s first three games due to a hamstring injury, finished Thursday’s 109-93 win over the Bossing with 16 points, three steals, two assists and a rebound. 

He shot just 5-of-6 from the field in 17 minutes. 

After the game, the 38-year-old guard said that his lengthy rest from action was able to fuel him in his conference debut.

“Actually, to be honest, after the [Governors’ Cup] finals, and then, yung nga, haba ng pahinga ko, sobrang excited ako maglaro kanina… And then, yung nga, nung naka-score ako ng first basket, parang okay, bumalik na lahat yung rhythm ko,” he told reporters. 

“So, sana magtuloy-tuloy, maging healthy, and yung nga, sobrang happy kai na nanalo kami bago matapos itong taon na ito,” he added.

The Tropang Giga lost their first two games of the conference before winning over the Magnolia Hotshots a week ago. 

And now, they have won two straight games and will have another lengthy pause from action. Their next game will be next year, against the Meralco Bolts on January 7. 

“[We are now] 2-2, so long break, maraming kami nga chance para mag-prepare for the stretch run, and then ma-fix din namin yung defense namin,” Castro said. 

TNT head coach Chot Reyes, for his part, bared that Castro had to play the last two games of the Governors’ Cup Finals basically on one leg. 

“[The decision to play Castro on Thursday,] a lot of it is dictated by his health. For those who don't know, Jason basically played the last two games of the finals injured on one leg. So pinilit lang niya,” Reyes said.

“And then we did not want to force it, so tinatanong lang namin sa kanya. We knew we won't have him for the first two games. And then day-to-day siya after that,” he added. 

“But now, because of the long break, siya na mismo nagsabi, nakapahinga. And not only pahinga, but nakabalik siya in practicing full contact practice. So yun yung malaking bagay.” 

Castro’s return is a huge boost for the Tropang Giga, especially with the absence of Kelly Williams and Poy Erram, who hurt himself after about 10 minutes of action against Blackwater. During the game, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was also not 100%, as he had a slight ankle sprain. 

Still, Hollis-Jefferson finished with 22 markers, nine boards, six dimes, two steals and a swat. 

Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana also powered through with 19 and 18 markers, respectively, while RR Pogoy and Glenn Khobuntin had 12 and 10 in that order. 

“Ang usapan namin, [Williams] should be back before the end of the year. So we fully expect us to be at full strength by 2025,” said Reyes.