Veteran Jayson Castro promises to return to lead TNT Tropang Giga to the quarterfinals of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
Castro, who is being nagged by a patellar tendinitis injury, is expected to return when they battle Rain or Shine on 5 January — a match that will determine who will advance to the next round.
Right now, the Tropang Giga and the Elasto Painters are tied at the seventh to eighth places with four wins in nine matches, making their encounter very crucial in their respective playoffs hopes.
After Rain or Shine, the Tropang Giga will face a dangerous Phoenix Super LPG side.
Castro, the heart and soul of the Tropang Giga following the departure of Mikey Williams, said they will do everything to pull off the crucial victory.
“All we need is one win. If we win this, we qualify,” said Castro, who vowed to return from a patellar tendinitis injury when they face the Elasto Painters.
Injuries have been hobbling the Tropang Giga.
In fact, they were forced to play without an import on Christmas Day after Rondae Hollis-Jefferson crashed with a neck injury.
Hollis-Jefferson’s spot will be taken over by his elder brother, Rahlir, who played with him when the Tropang Giga notched their first win in the East Asia Super League Home and Away season via an 80-69 triumph over the Taipei Fubon Braves last 20 December.
Castro, who also missed the team’s Christmas Day encounter against Barangay Ginebra, wasn’t surprised with their struggles in the early part of the season, considering the tough situations they were able to go through as a team. “So many things have happened — on and off the court,” said Castro during a telephone conversation with DAILY TRIBUNE.
“We can live with the off-the-court situation but playing with an incomplete line up due to injuries, that has really hurt the team.”
Aside from Castro and Hollis-Jefferson, also sidelined for the Tropang Giga were Poy Erram and Justin Chua (knee injuries), and Roger Pogoy (heart condition) while Williams remains away from the team due to their contract dispute.
An eight-time champion, Castro, the longest-tenured member of the Tropang Giga entering his 16th season, is confident the team can still turn things around and coast all the way to the semis.
From there, anything can happen.
“I’m still upbeat of our chances. One game at a time,” he added.
