Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Jayson Castro has played poorly for the duration of TNT semifinals campaign against Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, but that ended Saturday when Asia’s Best Point Guard showed his mettle.
In the first three games of the series, Castro only averaged just 7.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. He was abysmal from the field, shooting 9-of-32 overall, 2-of-14 from deep, for a total of 23 points.
But Castro shook off the funk as he toyed with Ginebra’s confused defense to the tune of 38 points, already eclipsing the total in the first three games combined, together with seven rebounds, and 11 assists.
“If you’ll notice, for the past three games Ginebra employed a really tight defensive scheme to slow me down,” said Castro as they finished off the Gin Kings .122-109, to end the series at 3-1.
“So going into Game 4, my mindset was to be aggressive and I knew that I struggled with my shot so I just told myself that this was a do-or-die game.”
Castro’s 38 points came off a 13-of-21 shooting clip, and TNT import Joshua Smith couldn’t help but be amazed of the wizardry his point guard put on the Gin Kings.
“That was one hell of a performance,” said Smith. “Jayson’s the reason why we’re in the finals right now, he put us on his back today. I mean 38-11-7, that’s really impressive so hats off to Jayson.”