SHOULD Jayson Castro retire?
Nicknamed "The Blur," because he oftentimes appear like that to his opponents at full speed, Castro is facing a decision many players, especially with his caliber, dread.
The question popped up following a serious injury in Game 2 of the semifinal game against Rain or Shine where the former MVP and considered by many as the heart and soul of the TNT Tropang Giga suffered what many perceive as a possible career-ending injury.
The talk about his future is understandable after he was ruled out for the rest of the 49th Season, or probably even beyond, after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. Doctors said recovery from that kind of injury would take a maximum of 12 months.
Castro is 38 and he will be 39 by the time he fully recovers, but many believe he might continue playing to finish his contract which was recently extended till 2027.
Fortunately, he signed the contract extension just weeks before the season-ending injury.
READ Jolas says Castro done for the season
But even a full recovery would not make him the player he was once before the injury. As it is, before the injury, his minutes were already being managed although there was no question that when he is on the court, TNT was a much better team.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said so during a postgame press conference of Game 3 where explained the time that when Castro is on the floor, he provides quality minutes for TNT.
“His minutes are also being managed, it’s around 20-plus minutes. Pero quality ‘yung nilalaro niyang mga minutes. It’s really the time when he is on court that he is able to make his teammates around him better,” said Guiao.
For now, the focus of ‘The Blur’ is to heal, and this space is wishing him a speedy recovery.- Reuben Terrado
Why Kyt ended up at Saranggani and not Abra
BEFORE landing Fil-Am Jason Brickman, Abra had a major interest signing up former San Miguel Beer guard Kyt Jimenez.
SPIN.ph sources bared the camp of Jimenez already had prior talks with the MPBL Northern Conference team owned by incumbent La Paz, Abra mayor JB Bernos for a possible stint with the province in the coming seventh season of the league.
But along the way, Jimenez ended up signing with the Saranggani Marlins, his former MPBL team where he once registered the MPBL’s only quadruple-double game.
READ Brickman to suit up for MPBL's Abra before taking talents to PBA
“Binigay yung salary niya,” said the source on Jimenez’s decision to make a homecoming with the Marlins, but refused to divulge the exact amount he signed with Saranggani.
Jimenez previously suited up for the Zamboanga Valientes in the 34th Dubai International basketball tournament and the 3rd Gov. Ann Hofer Open Invitational basketball tournament.
His deal with the Valientes, owned by former player Junnie Navarro, runs until March, which paves the way for him to return to the MPBL.
Abra meanwhile, need not fret as the team was able to get the services of the 33-year-old Brickman in return.
The Fil-Am guard previously played for local teams Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League and the Strong Group Athletics (SGA), where he recently saw action in the same Dubai International meet. - Gerry Ramos
Mapua-Solid North Partylist break-up confirmed
CHRIS Hubilla, Lawrence Mangubat, and assistant coach Nani Epondulan aren’t the only ones who won’t be present when Mapua makes its repeat bid come NCAA Season 101.
SPIN.ph sources confirmed that the Solid North Partylist, main backer of the Cardinals for the past two seasons, has abandoned the team.
Just when the Mapua community thought the partnership would continue after Mapua’s NCAA Season 100 triumph - where the school ended a 33-year title drought in seniors basketball behind Clint Escamis - the partylist is saying goodbye to the Cardinals and the school.
Team insiders bared that the partylist, which also backs Abra Weavers in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), felt that its support was unappreciated especially after it was noticed that the group was virtually ignored during the team’s celebrations.
Curiously, Abra head coach Yong Garcia also resigned from the Mapua program after serving as the lead deputy and being the head tactician for the Red Robins.
He was initially supposed to serve as a consultant with the juniors program to newly appointed head coach JR dela Cruz, but it neveer happened and he ultimately left the school.
As for Mapua, Cardinals head coach Randy Alcantara has been appointed as the school’s athletic director.
The school is looking for a new backer and this might be the San Juan Knights of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, which also has Alcantara in its coaching staff. But nothing is clear yet on whether this partnership will push through. - RL
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