CASTRO – LEE TOSSUP FOR BEST PLAYER PLUM
Whatever they say, the Talk n Text-Rain or Shine title duel, inevitably, is also a battle between Jayson Castro and Paul Lee for the Best Player of the Conference award.
Whoever between the two does better in the first three games of the best-of-seven Finals is likely to gain the nod of those involved in the balloting.
The first three games could impact on the votes of players, the media and PBA top officials with the BPC winner to be announced in Game Four on April 22 at the Big Dome.
Through the semifinals, Castro jumped from second place to No. 1 in the stats race with an average of 35.3 a game. June Mar Fajardo slid to second with 34.0 while Lee occupies third spot with 32.1.
Fajardo, Barangay Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter and GlobalPort’s Terrence Romeo are the other official contenders for the award.
But the fight has virtually become one-on-one between Castro and Lee with their solid stats and the Finals entry of their respective teams.
They’re bringing their fight in the titular series starting Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The two players insist they will fight for their teams’ causes and not individual glory.
Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico and Rain or Shine bench chieftain Yeng Guiao, meanwhile, said they won’t deviate from their usual systems and game patterns to help boost the BPC aspirations of the contending players.
“At Talk n Text, we’re not thinking about the individual award. We play to win a championship. You win a championship and everyone in your team is happy,” said Castro.
“The goal always is to make the Finals. For me, it’s already a blessing that I’m contending for the award. If it’s for me, it’s for me,” said Lee.
“We’ll play our normal game and get to our normal rotation with Paul Lee playing 26 to 27 minutes. I don’t see us getting out of that routine except if it’s a close, hard game. But I’d rather not,” said Guiao.
“It’s important to win games. It’s hard to win the BPC award if you’re not winning,” Guiao also said.
Uichico said it’s right that the two players are prioritizing team goals.
But whatever they say, Castro and Lee are expected wage a fight for the top individual plum. (SB)
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