TNT’s Ranidel de Ocampo. PBA IMAGES
Not even the absence of Jayson Castro could pass as a viable excuse for TNT coach Josh Reyes following the KaTropa’s opening-game loss to Rain or Shine on Wednesday night.
Reyes, who acted as a temporary head coach for TNT with Nash Racela tied up with Far Eastern University, said not having Castro was not the reason why the KaTropa dropped a 101-87 decision to the Elasto Painters.
“It’s really an adjustment. Everybody is used to playing with Jayson, but it shouldn’t be an excuse for everybody including myself,” said Reyes.
“We should’ve done a better job defensively because I felt that if we could’ve made enough stops, enough defensive rebounds, the result could be different.”
The 30-year-old Castro is taking a much-needed rest after playing nonstop starting from his national team duties in 2013 up to the 2016 Governors’ Cup semifinals where TNT lost to Meralco in five games early last month.
According to Reyes, Castro, who is also expected to miss TNT’s game against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday, is set to make his season debut on Dec. 2 against Blackwater.
“I don’t know what Jayson is feeling right now, so I guess it’s up to him when he feels ready. It’s only him who knows what’s happening with his body, so he told me after two games, he’ll be ready,” he said.
“He just started practicing again, maybe a couple of practice. We can’t rely on Jayson to save our season. Everybody from the team, we have to do our part to make this conference a successful one.”