No Castro-Lee reunion for Gilas Pilipinas

Jayson Castro vs Paul Lee. PBA FILE PHOTO

Jayson Castro and Paul Lee have always talked about the possibility of playing side-by-side again in the Gilas Pilipinas jersey.

After playing alongside each other during the 2014 Fiba Basketball World Cup, the two got an idea on how would they run the floor better for Gilas Pilipinas in their succeeding tour of duty.

Unfortunately, injuries have robbed them of that chance after Lee begged off from national team duties and Castro could only wonder how exciting that partnership would’ve have been.

“Sayang kasi excited pa naman ako na makalaro sya. Parati kami magkausap na pag nagkasabay kami, pareho kaming combo-guard kaya kung sino man ang point guard at sino ang shooting guard, OK kami,” he said after Gilas Pilipinas’ morning practices at Meralco Gym on Tuesday.

Castro knows what huge loss Lee’s withdrawal is for Gilas Pilipinas, which will miss Lee’s competitive fire.

“Pag sinabi mo kasing Paul Lee, mahirap palitan yun, di ba? Ang daming pwedeng magawa ni Paul. Kita naman natin nung Fiba World, talagang outside or inside, kaya niyang iwan yung bantay nya.”
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“Yung competitiveness nya ang pinakamami-miss namin. Si Paul kapag practice, practice talaga kahit may masaktan. Yun ang pagkakaalam ko kay Paul. Gusto nya pag practice parang yung nilalaro nya na rin,” he said.

But Castro and the team knows the reality of the sport and everybody is ready to step up to fill in the gap.

“Sabi nga ni coach Tab (Baldwin), kung sino yung mga andito, kailangan pa rin magtrabaho kasi hindi naman natin sila masisisi kasi injured sila. Kailangan nilang magpahinga talaga,” he said. “Gagawa at gagawa ng paraan si coach at ibang players para punuan yun. Pagiigihan na lang namin yung practice namin.”