PERHAPS it’s TNT’s own version of load management for its players, specifically old hand Jayson Castro.
Coach Chot Reyes bared the decision to rest a hurting Castro during the team’s PBA Governors Cup semifinals series against Rain or Shine was aimed at keeping him fresh for the bigger battles ahead.
True enough, the longtime face of the TNT franchise looked reinvigorated in the team’s title series against Barangay Ginebra.
READ RJ Abarrientos admits getting schooled by idol Castro in Game One
Castro played efficiently anew and helped the Tropang Giga pull off a 96-84 win Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals.
He was 3-of-6 from the field to finish with nine points, added three rebounds, and a team-high seven assists in the victory before another banner crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Reyes said the team somehow is reaping the fruit of its earlier decision to rest Castro in the semis due to a hurting knee.
“If you remember in the semis, we sat him one or two games, right? Because we really wanted to save him for the finals, and the reason he’s playing at that level now is because he’s relatively fresh,” recalled the TNT mentor.
Castro – along with fellow veteran Kelly Williams – skipped Game 3 of the semis against the Elasto Painters. Despite the absence of the two, Rain or Shine barely beat TNT, 110-109, thanks to a last-gasp three-point play by import Aaron Fuller.
But at the same time, Reyes said the fine plays of the other TNT guards, from new acquisition Rey Nambatac to Roger Pogoy to Brian Heruela, gave him the luxury of resting his long-time star even earlier in the playoffs.
“The reason why Jayson can play at this level was because of the great game of his teammates, Rey (Nambatac) and other guards, even Brian Heruela in the elims and in the playoffs,” added the TNT coach.
“We were able to preserve Jayson.”
That was obvious right in the opening game of the title series when Castro scored 14 points and obviously, got the better of his backcourt matchup against Ginebra rookie RJ Abarrientos in a 104-88 blowout win.
“We all know what he can bring to the table and he’s just showing us his value as our lead guard coming off the bench and leading that second unit. And that’s very important,” Reyes added.
Game 3 is set on Friday also at the Big Dome.
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