A LEADER NO DOUBT
If there were still any doubts on his ability to carry his team on his shoulders, Jayson Castro sure made believers out of everyone as he went bonkers and towed Talk ‘N Text to the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
After being minted as a member of the league’s 40 Greatest Players on Wednesday, Castro went on an unbelievable tear, first scoring 27 points on an 8-of-9 three-point shooting, 10 assists, three rebounds, and three steals just 24 hours later.
He then followed it up Saturday with a scintillating career-high tying 33-point performance, 13 coming in the fourth, as he shot 7-of-11 from rainbow country, and added five rebounds, four assists, and three steals in the 79-66 series clincher.
“He just makes things easier for the team,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico. “He has evolved into a go-to guy to a passer. He’s a big problem for the other team. He lifted us up dahil dun sa sunod-sunod na puntos nya in the final minutes.”
Team manager Jimmy Alapag also added, “I couldn’t be any happier for him just because of his leadership. He has really carried us in this series.”
But for Castro, it just so happens that he gets the touches at the right time.
“This series kasi maganda yung execution namin at nakoconvert ko yung mga play. Sa last minute ng games, sa akin lang napupunta yung bola at ako nakakapag-create,” he said.
The element of teamwork, however, is still not lost on the Best Point Guard in Asia.
“Para matalo namin ang Rain or Shine sa Finals, we need to play as a team talaga,” he said.
The Talk ‘N Text – Rain or Shine series also presents a duel between the frontrunners for the Best Player of the Conference award in Castro and Paul Lee. But the Kapampangan said that the individual award doesn’t mean that much to him if they don’t win the title.
“Pinakatarget ko talaga yung trophy kasi once na mag-champion ka, lahat masaya. Second na lang yung Best Player of the Conference. Kung ibigay sa akin o hindi, ok lang,” he said. “Team player ako. Kahit di ako masyado maka-score, pag nanalo yung team, masaya na ako. Ganun yung natutunan ko dito sa Talk ‘N Text, especially from Jimmy.”
Alapag’s departure also opened a lot of gates for Castro. But ever the grateful, he still credits the Mighty Mouse for his development as a great player in the PBA.
“Lagi nya akong minomotivate. Every practice, lagi kaming naguusap kung pano ile-lead yung team. Maraming leaders sa team, pero tinuturuan nya ako maging isa dun,” he said. (RL)
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