May hiling si Castro

CHANGSHA – Sa ikalawang sunod na runner-up finish ng Gilas Pilipinas, ang tanging hi-ling ni Jayson Castro para sa Philippine basketball ay magkaroon ng pagkakaisa upang madomina ng Team Phl ang susunod na FIBA-Asia Championship.

Naniniwala si Castro,  kabilang sa All-Star Five ng FIBA Asia, na ang Philippines ay nasa likuran na ng China at kaunting push na lang ang kailangan para muling dominahin ang Asian basketball.

“We know that we can beat them and I’m sure they feel that we can beat them,” sabi ni Castro. “For a two-month training and the absence of some of our guys that we needed here, we’re proud of what we have achieved. Maybe, let’s just make sure the next time that we really unite.”

Umaasa ang ibang Gilas players na may tutugon sa panawagan ni Castro. Nais nilang magkaroon ng kongkretong plano na suportado lahat ng Philippine basketball stakeholders.

Sa katatapos lamang na FIBA Asia finals, inamin ni Castro na hindi nila naipakita ang dapat nilang ilaro para talunin ang China sa gold-medal game.

“We came up short. We didn’t hit the outside shots they’re giving to us. In the third quarter, for some reason, our energy went down. Our defensive game plan broke down maybe because we’re already tired,” sabi ni Castro. “But we have to admit they’re tall and they’re good. They challenged and made it tough for us to take the shots we’re comfortable taking.”

Ngunit alam naman niyang dalawang buwan lang ang kanilang pagsasanay kumpara sa koponan ng China na kung saan-saan nagpunta sa loob ng pitong buwan para mag-training.