Castro assumes new role as Talk n Text leader

MANILA, Philippines -- The rebuilding Talk ‘N Text may have lost team captain in Jimmy Alapag to retirement, but the Tropang Texters still have Jayson Castro in their quest for a championship in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

With “the Blur” comfortably assuming the “take-charge” role this conference, Talk ‘N Text continued its steady climb up the standings, registering victories over Barako Bull and Barangay Ginebra in a span of three days.

The 28-year-old Castro, a vital cog in Gilas Pilipinas’ silver-medal finish in the 2013 Fiba-Asia men’s championships in Manila, tallied a team-high 16 points, including two clutch three-point baskets in the final period to lead Talk ‘N Text to an 80-75 win and hand Barako Bull its first loss for the conference.

But he’s got more left on his tank.

Two days later, the former Philippine Christian University standout dropped 31 points in the last three quarters, before sealing his heroics with an interception on Mac Baracel’s inbound pass intended for LA Tenorio w/ 2.3 seconds left to complete Talk ’N Text’s 104-103 comeback win over Barangay Ginebra.

Castro averaged 23.5 points, 5.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2,5 steals in the team’s back-to-back wins to earn the hands-down Accel-PBA Press Corps. Player of the Week for the period of Feb. 9-15.

The twin victories also moved Talk ‘N Text to joint second place with defending champion Purefoods Star, halfway through the single-round eliminations.

Talk ‘N Text will shoot for its fifth win this conference when it collides with sister team NLEX on Friday.