Jayson Castro Eyes One More Game 7 for TNT

Back in the 2011 Governors’ Cup, Jayson Castro, then one of the PBA’s deadliest combo guards, was playing in pain throughout TNT’s best-of-seven championship series against Petron, the brand name then being carried by the San Miguel franchise before June Mar Fajardo became its centerpiece.

Castro formed TNT’s backcourt 1-2 punch with team captain and season Most Valuable Player Jimmy Alapag, but he was slowed by a medial collateral ligament injury midway through the series.

His numbers dipped as the injury took its toll, and he was eventually sidelined for Game 5, which ended in a 93-80 loss to Petron and pushed the Blaze Boosters to within one win of the crown.

But Castro returned for Game 6 and helped will TNT back to victory, finishing with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists to force a winner-take-all showdown.

In the end, the Tropang Texters lost to Anthony Grundy and the Blaze Boosters in Game 7, 85-73. Grundy led Petron with 26 points, while the Far Eastern University connection of Denok Miranda and eventual Finals MVP Arwind Santos helped push Ato Agustin’s team to the championship and denied TNT a Grand Slam.

Fifteen years later, with his soon-to-turn 40-year-old body already weary and aching, Castro finds himself facing another Game 7. This time, the two-time FIBA Asia Cup All-Star Five selection and one of the most respected point guards in Asian basketball is trying to push TNT through one more title fight against Barangay Ginebra.

“Hopefully, makalaro ako ulit,” said Castro, the last player to leave the Tropang 5G locker room after Game 6 as his sprained left ankle was treated to reduce the swelling and give him a chance to be ready for the rubber match.

“Na-check lang yung injury. May maga, pero good news naman. Ita-try naming makalaro sa Game 7 sa Wednesday,” he added. “Maging ready lang. So kung kailanganin ako ni Coach, I think ready naman. It’s a typical sprained ankle so namaga siya, pero wala namang na-damage sa mga ligaments.”

Castro became the latest casualty on an already injury-riddled TNT roster. He rolled his ankle in Game 6, a 98-90 TNT victory that forced the deciding game, and finished with three points in 17 minutes.

TNT played that game without two other key players in Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser. Oftana had been dealing with a toe infection and calf pain, while Ganuelas-Rosser hurt his ankle in Game 5. Before that, TNT had already lost Bol Bol for the rest of the conference because of an Achilles injury in the semifinals.

Castro’s veteran presence will be badly needed with the championship on the line, but the 10-time PBA champion knows he no longer has to play the same starring role he carried in his prime. At this stage of his career, even a few meaningful minutes can matter.

“Kahit mga ilang minutes lang, para makatulong,” he said. “Hindi mo rin kasi masasabi kung kailan ka mai-injure or magkaroon ng aksidente, pero sisikapin kong makatulong ulit sa Game 7 kahit limited minutes lang. Para sa mga teammates ko, sa management at sa mga taga-suporta ng TNT.”

“Inspired akong makatulong sa team. Kailangan lang ng something na mag-spark para ma-inspire rin yung mga teammates ko.”

Through the years, Castro has learned to embrace a different role. He no longer plays heavy minutes every night and is no longer asked to carry the same load, but he still understands how much he can give in smaller, quieter ways.

“Yung veteran presence lang. Makapagbigay ng advice sa mga starters namin or young players at maging positive lang lagi kasi as a veteran, yun lang ang maibibigay mo sa kanila. Maging confident at makapagbigay ng motivation sa kanila,” Castro said.

Now Castro and this new breed of Tropang 5G players have put themselves in position to win another crown.

The road has been painful. Bol Bol went down. Oftana and Ganuelas-Rosser have dealt with their own injuries. Castro is now trying to recover from another ankle issue. But for one more game, TNT has no choice but to endure.

For Castro, this championship would mean something deeper because of everything TNT has gone through this conference.

“Sobrang special nito, kung sakali, kasi ang daming nangyari. Yung nangyari kay Bol, yung mga pinagdaanan namin nung elimination round, maraming nangyari. Isa sa mga dahilan yun na yun ang motivation namin to win a championship para kay Bol, sa management, so sana makuha,” Castro said.

But if TNT gets it done, would another championship be the perfect ending for Castro’s decorated career?

“I’ve really thought about that as early as three years ago,” said Castro, who returned this conference after recovering from a serious knee injury. “Pero after nung makabalik ako, nakita ko naman na puwede pa akong makatulong, hindi na kaparehas nung dati, pero para maging leader lang sa mga mas bata kong teammates.”

“Sa tingin ko, puwede pa maski dalawang taon. Gusto ko kung mag-retire man ako, yung desidido na talaga akong gawin yun.”

For now, Castro has only a few days to rest, recover and give TNT whatever is left in him.

One more Game 7.

One more chance to play through pain.

One more chance for The Blur to help bring TNT home.