It’s official: Castro ends international career

One of the best point guards in Asia Jayson Castro. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

As Gilas Pilipinas’ road to Rio came to a close, Jayson Castro also ended his stellar international career on Thursday.

The 30-year-old guard, after hinting the night before that he’s ready to retire from the national team, made it official in a post on his Instagram account @jaywill_17.

“The end of our bid for a spot at Rio Olympics will also be the end of my stint as a member of Gilas Pilipinas. For the past few years, it has been my honor to represent all of you but now it’s time to hand over the responsibility to the younger generation.”

“Maraming salamat sa walang sawang pagsuporta niyo sa Gilas. Hindi ko makakalimutan lahat ng pinagsamahan natin. Ako si Jayson Castro, taga Guagua, Pampanga, lumaban para sa bayan,” he ended.

Castro led the country to two silver medal finishes in the 2013 and 2015 Fiba Asia Championships, where he was named in the Mythical Team both times.

He was also a part of the Gilas Pilipinas team which made it to the 2014 Fiba Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Castro averaged 13.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the Philippines’ short-lived stint in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament here in Manila. The Filipinos lost to France, 93-84, then New Zealand, 89-80 to end their 2016 Rio Olympic aspirations.

The 5-foot-11 slasher was the second Gilas Pilipinas player to hang up his sneakers, following Ranidel de Ocampo’s announcement early Thursday.