Getting ready
ANTIPOLO—Jayson Castro is glad that TNT continues to find a way to get to the PBA Finals on a regular basis despite his lengthy absence due to a knee injury.
Castro’s return seems to be imminent as he has recently been seen shaking off some rust, like the way he did before Game 1 of the Philippine Cup title series against powerhouse defending champion San Miguel Beer last Wednesday.
“Despite the challenges during the eliminations, the team stuck together, which shows their true character,” Castro said in a short chat with the Inquirer, praising the team he has been with in his entire pro career.
For now, Castro will have to do the role of cheerleader and mentor for his TNT squad, which at press time was looking to go 2-0 up against the Beermen at Ynares Center here.
It helps that its deep backcourt has enabled TNT to succeed even without its unquestioned leader, who has been sidelined by a ruptured patellar tendon since February last year.
The three-time PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player got hurt during the 2024-2025 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series against Rain or Shine, which was a major setback considering that Castro has been playing in fine form.
Before the injury, Castro was Finals MVP during the previous conference when TNT took down Barangay Ginebra for the 2024 Governors’ Cup crown and was also starting to reach playoff form when he got hurt.
TNT shrugged off Castro’s absence and won the Commissioner’s Cup title behind Finals MVP Rey Nambatac.
The Tropang 5G came up short in the Season 49 Philippine Cup, though it was able to add Jordan Heading from Converge, which enabled them to finally unload the controversial Mikey Williams.
Guard depth
This season, TNT tapped Jio Jalalon to add more depth at the backcourt spot. Jalalon can be relied on for his peskiness.
And with Castro expected to be back in the Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at the earliest, TNT’s options seem limitless.
That is why Castro, who will turn 40 in June, wants to make sure he can still be effective for the team he has helped win 10 championships over the course of an 18-year campaign.
Castro’s workout before Game 1 sparked a bit of a stir, though he is ineligible to play in the series as teams can’t change lineups once the playoffs begin.
Videos of his participation in workouts were run by Nicolo Chua, a skills coach who runs Simple Grind, a basketball camp that also attracts other PBA players in recent years.
“I want to do some extra work so that I can be ready once I’m cleared to play,” Castro said.
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