BEST Import awardee Wayne Chism of Rain or Shine wins the rebound off Best Player of the Conference Jason Castro of Talk ‘N Text in last night’s Game 4 at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Winning in every department, Talk ‘N Text point guard Jayson Castro was rewarded with the Best Player of the Conference award Wednesday night for his superlative effort in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The 6-foot Castro, after topping the statistical points race narrowly over San Miguel Beer cornerstone June Mar Fajardo, dominated the voting among players, the PBA and the media for a total of 1,164 points.
Paul Lee of Rain or Shine finished a far second with 782 points, followed by Fajardo, the reigning MVP who got booted out in the eliminations, with 542.
Wayne Chism of Rain or Shine shared the winner’s stage with Castro by bagging the Best Import trophy in his second tour of duty with the Elasto Painters.
Chism tallied 1,160 points, with the temperamental Ivan Johnson of Talk ‘N Text winding up second with 873. Denzel Bowles of Purefoods, a two-time winner of the award, was third at 666.
Castro, who had a super Final Four series that helped the Tropang Texters dethrone the Purefoods Star Hotshots in four games, won all 34 available first place votes from the media in annexing his third such award counting the 2013 Philippine Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup last season.
Named as a member of the 40 Greatest Players list earlier this month, Castro also became just the sixth player in the PBA to win at least three BPC awards after Alvin Patrimonio, Eric Menk, Mark Caguioa, Vergel Meneses and Danny Ildefonso—all former MVPs.
Castro is averaging close to 19 points and a shade over five assists in the tournament, but his overpowering performance in the Final Four sealed his victory in the voting.
A mainstay of the Gilas Pilipinas National five, Castro was the only Filipino to make it to the Mythical Five of the Fiba Asia Basketball Championship won by Iran over the Philippines last year at Mall of Asia Arena.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra has tapped the services of NBA veteran Orien Greene for the Governors’ Cup, the season-ending tournament set to open on May 5.
Sanchir Tungala of Mongolia will be the Gin Kings’ Asian import as Ginebra tries to go deep in the playoffs for the first time this season with new coach Frankie Lim.
Greene played for a total of four teams in the NBA.