Spotlight falls on Castro, Lee as PBA finals between Rain or Shine, Talk N’ Text begin

Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee and Talk ‘N Text’s Jayson Castro have their sights on winning a championship and not on the Best Player award. Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net

The race for the Best Player of the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup is down to Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee and Talk ‘N Text’s Jayson Castro.

Fittingly, both Lee and Castro also find themselves chasing the ultimate goal of winning another championship with the Elasto Painters and the Tropang Texters colliding in a best-of-seven championship duel beginning on Wednesday.

One of the interesting subplots of the series is of course the matchup between Lee and Castro at the guard spot. The two, however, would rather not talk about their pending showdown and instead focus on their respective teams’ goals.

BACKSTORY: Castro leads Talk ‘N Text past Purefoods anew and into finals

“Sakin lang, bago pa mag-start yung season, may goal kami na makapasok sa Finals every conference,” the third-year Lee said during the Finals presser Monday held at Sambo Kojin in Eastwood City. “Para sa akin blessing na lang yung maging candidate sa BPC, kung para sa akin, para sa akin. Lagi kaming nire-remind ni coach Yeng na championship muna bago ang lahat.”

“Since rookie year ko dito sa Talk ‘N Text, yung mga award hindi namin iniisip basta naglalaro lang kami as a team lagi yun ang goal namin. Tuwing championship, ito yung natutunan ko kay Jimmy (Alapag) na kapag nananalo ng championship lahat masaya pero kapag nakuha mo individual award ikaw lang masaya so mas gusto ko masaya lahat kami,” said the 28-year-old Castro.

Multi-titled coaches Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine and Jong Uichico of Talk ‘N Text also echoed their prized wards’ sentiments that winning as a team comes first.

BACKSTORY: Rain or Shine books finals berth after sweep of depleted Meralco

“I think the more important thing is for us to win the game because that’s going to play with him (Lee) winning the BPC,” Guiao said. “It’s really hard to win the BPC if you’re team is not winning so both players are right from prioritizing the team first rather than winning the individual award. He got there because of our normal rotation, because our normal manner of using him so that’s just going to stay as is.”

“I think tama naman silang dalawa and tama si coach Yeng. They would not have been candidates for Best Player if both teams did not reach the championship. Malaking bagay yung getting into the championship in their candidacy. And whoever gets the Best Player award deserves it,” said Uichico, who is gunning for his ninth championship as coach.

Castro, though, doesn’t discount the fact that he is looking forward to facing Lee.

“Ever since naman kapag naglalaro kami ni Paul Lee minsan nagkakabantayan kami at ineenjoy namin kasi magkaibigan naman kami and then siyempre gusto din naman namin manalo team namin and team niya yun naglalaro kami para sa mga team namin,” he said.