Castro says locals deserve blame for worst TnT start in two years

THERE’S no one to be blamed in TnT Katropa’s slow start in the PBA Governors' Cup than the players themselves.

Jayson Castro made the admission after the Katropa absorbed a 125-96 beating from the Alaska Aces Sunday night to lose for the second straight time in three days.

The setback sent the team reeling to a 1-3 record, its worst to start a conference since the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.

But Castro said the players are accountable to everything.

“Kailangan yung mindset namin ibahin namin, kasi nasa players na hindi na sa coaches o kung sino man,” said the 32-year-old veteran guard. “Kami yung naglalaro sa loob, so walang dapat sisihin kundi kami.”

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Castro also absolved new import Stacy Davis to the current fate of the team as the replacement import to Mike Glover had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in his second game with TnT.

“Nanalo kami without an import, and then may import, pero yung energy naming parang ganun, dalawang games na sunod so siguro hindi na import yung locals na talaga, kami,” he said. “Hindi na import yung problema naming.”

Castro himself had its share of the blame. Hhot 3-of-9 from the field for 13 points, all of which he scored in the second quarter when Alaska already had the game under control and leading by as many as 20.

The two-time best point guard of Asia lamented how the Katropa lacked the energy to match-up with the Aces right from the get-go.

“Start of the ballgame pa lang, talagang hindi ko na ma-imagine,” he said.

The 1-3 record is also the worst of the Katropa under coach Nash Racela and Castro said it would really take a huge effort for TnT to turn things around.

“Ang hirap kasi alam naman natin na every game counts dito sa eliminations,” said Castro.

Reminded that Barangay Ginebra also begin the Commissioner’s Cup with a 1-5 record, and still ended up as champion.

Castro said that is very possible, but again, it has to start among the locals themselves.

“Sana. Pero kailangan may mangyari na iba sa amin,” he added without elaborating.

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