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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Jayson Castro shows veteran poise in TNT's Game 6 win

Jayson Castro shows veteran poise in TNT's Game 6 win

Published Nov 9, 2024 03:45 am

At A Glance

  • Aging like a fine wine, veteran Jayson Castro finally bagged his first solo Finals Most Valuable Player plum in what has been a colorful 16-year career for the TNT franchise.

Aging like a fine wine, veteran Jayson Castro finally bagged his first solo Finals Most Valuable Player plum in what has been a colorful 16-year career for the TNT franchise.

PBA Images19 (1).jpg
TNT's Jayson Castro has still gas left in his tank. (PBA Images)

The Tropang Giga retained their PBA Governors' Cup title after beating the Barangay Gin Kings, 95-85, in Game 6 on Friday night, Nov. 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Castro, at 38, proved that age is just a number as he averaged impressive numbers of 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists for his third overall MVP award after sharing his first two with fellow legend Jimmy Alapag in the 2011 Philippine and Commissioner’s Cup.

“Sobrang special kasi diba andon nako sa latter part ng career ko at ilang years na lang [meron ako]. Sabi ko naman sa management tyaka sa mga teammates ko na hanggang nandito ako, ibibigay ko ‘yong best ko,” said Castro, who registered 13 points, six assists and two rebounds in series-clinching win.

“At the same time, inaalagaan ko naman ‘yong katawan ko, pati ‘yong mental [health ko] ko, so I think kaya ko pa makipag-compete,” he added.

He bested reinforcement Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and his local teammates RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana for the finals accolade.

The former Philippine Christian University star came out big down the stretch where he orchestrated the Tropang Giga’s resurgence in the fourth quarter after being down by as many as 11, 68-57, in the third canto.

But for Castro, it was all unexpected.

“Sobrang sarap sa feeling kasi ‘to ‘yong championship na marami kaming napagdaanan. Kasi makita niyo noong last conference sobrang sama [ng laro] namin, ni hindi man kami umabot ng semifinals,” Castro continued.

“Sabi nga ni coach Chot (Reyes) during training camp pa lang, ‘to ‘yong conference na kailangan naming makabawi at ipakita na kaya pa naming mag-champion,” he added.

Aside from the two-time Asia’s best point guard, fellow TNT mainstay Kelly Williams also delivered in the clutch off an assist from Castro at the 1:20 mark for a 91-85 lead.

The five-time Best Player of the Conference awardee cherished that moment as he has always been a working hand in hand with Williams.

“No’ng nakita ko napa-wow rin ako eh, kasi ‘yon nga dalawang veteran… pero si Kelly, imagine that parang dalawang veteran kaya pang makapag-close out ng game na ganun,” said Castro.

“Sobrang special para sakin nun, kasi pag kapasa ko [kay Kelly] up six kami eh, kaya sabi ko may malaking chance na manalo.”

He was the oldest to win such an award and the seventh player to have three in his career, joining June Mar Fajardo, LA Tenorio, James Yap, Danny Seigle, Erik Menk and Danny Ildefonso.

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TNT Tropang Giga Jayson Castro PBA Governors’ Cup
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