Jason Castro. INQUIRER.net PHOTO/TRISTAN TAMAYO
Jason Castro came up with a performance that towed TNT KaTropa past Barangay Ginebra on Saturday night and into a titanic best-of-seven clash with powerhouse San Miguel Beer for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown.
After shooting 38 points and destroying all defenses thrown at him at the crunch in a series-clinching Game 4, it now looks like the Texters do have a chance against the Beermen, the consensus team-to-beat bannered by the champion all-Filipino core and a no-nonsense import in Charles Rhodes.
The 5-foot-11 Castro, though, was quick to dispel any notion that TNT can beat San Miguel riding him again, like what the Texters did against the Gin Kings on Saturday.
“It will not be Jason Castro versus Chris Ross or (which ever guard),” Castro said in Filipino as Game 1 is played Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“We need to play as a team, and once we play as a team, things can happen.”
Ross’ name was mentioned by scribes after the similarly cat-quick guard also played big in the last two games of the Beermen’s semifinal series against Star, a confrontation that ended with the same 3-1 score.
Ross contributed heavily in practically all departments.
“Everyone needs to contribute,” Castro said. “To beat San Miguel, that’s what we need. From Ranidel (De Ocampo), our team captain, down to our 14th guy. Everyone who plays must contribute. That’s our only chance.”
Castro came out with all guns firing against the Gin Kings, shooting his first nine points inside the first four minutes of Game 4 before finishing off Ginebra with 10 of his total in the fourth.
To be fair, the Texters churned out a well-balanced attack, with three other locals tossing in twin digits—RR Garcia firing 16; Kelly Williams, the 2008 Most Valuable Player, shooting 14; and rookie RR Pogoy chipping in 13.