CASTRO NAMED BPC; CHISM BEST IMPORT
Talk ‘N Text stalwart Jayson Castro is a legend just into his seventh season as a pro baller with his enshrinement in the elite list of PBA Greatest Players.
At 28, he’s surely far from done.
On Wednesday, Castro embellished his treasure chest with the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference award.
Before Game Four of the Talk ‘N Text-Rain or Shine finale, Castro hoisted his third BPC ware, winning it over Paul Lee, Junemar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter and Terrence Romeo.
Castro amassed 1164 points as against Lee’s 782, Fajardo’s 542, Romeo’s 408 and Slaughter’s 404.
Wayne Chism, meanwhile, beat Ivan Johnson, Denzel Bowles and Josh Davis for the Best Import award.
Castro insisted he’d rather win a championship, but he won’t be denied of the precious individual award, becoming only the sixth player to have pocketed at least three BPC plums after Alvin Patrimonio, Vergel Meneses, Danny Ildefonso, Eric Menk and Mark Caguioa.
He won his two earlier BPC crowns in the 2013 Philippine Cup and in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
The third overall pick in the 2008 draft behind Gabe Norwood and Jared Dillinger, Castro has definitely proven he’s the best in his generation with a slew of championships and individual awards.
He’s a five-time PBA champion with two inclusions in the Mythical First Five, two citations in the Mythical Second Team, one scoring title, three All-Star Game stints and his enshrinement to the Greatest list.
He has also marked his career with a stint with the national team highlighted by his inclusion in the Mythical Selection in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
He’s likely to make a return stint in the Asian meet in China late this year with Junmar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter and Paul Lee under coach Tab Baldwin.
Castro emerged the BPC winner a third time and second straight in the Commissioner’s Cup after topping the stats race and gaining the nod of his fellow players, the media and the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
The 5-foot-11 guard is at his finest, with averages of 20.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals in the tourney, ranking No. 1 overall in assists, second among locals in scoring behind Romeo’s 20.8 and 11th in steals.
Chism is only the third Rain or Shine reinforcement to win Best Import honors after Arizona Reid in the 2011 and 2014 Governors Cups and Jamelle Cornley in the 2012 Governors Cup. (SB)
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