JAYSON Castro underwent surgery on Sunday after sustaining a full thickness patellar tendon tear in his right knee in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa said Castro is now in his Pampanga home to recover from the injury that will entail at least a six-month recuperation period.
READ: Jolas says Castro done for season due to full thickness patellar tendon tear
Lastimosa, however, said the 38-year-old Castro will not take any chances and will rest for a full year, as per the advice of doctors as well.
“Umuwi siya Pampanga and he is going to stay there for a while. He will have a check-up in a few days. It’s going to be a long process. It’s going to be a full 12 months. Let’s see how his body recovers,” said Lastimosa.
Lastimosa said he will check on Castro to personally see his condition and morale.
“I have to see him. Bibisitahin ko siya sa Pampanga,” said Lastimosa.
Castro averaged 10.58 points, 2.75 rebounds, 3.58 assists, and 1.25 steals throughout the conference before going down in Game 2 last Friday.
In their first game since Castro’s injury, the Tropang Giga fell to Rain or Shine, 103-98, to slice their lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven semifinal series. Both teams return to the floor on Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Lastimosa is confident that TNT’s play won’t dip in the series even with Castro absence.
“We can manage. Itong game (last Sunday), we’ve been playing bad especially on the defensive side. We gave up 100 points, medyo masama for us. We have a lot of corrections to do. We know that we are a better team than we have shown (in Game 3),” said Lastimosa.
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