Why are Jason Castro and Terrence Romeo special for Gilas?

Photos by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

TAIPEI – Ever wondered why Jason Castro and Terrence Romeo have become special, not just as PBA players but as international stars for Gilas Pilipinas?

“Jason and Terrence know how to score against bigger opponents,” national team coach Chot Reyes said on Saturday night as he exalted the undersized and young Filipinos playing in the 39th Jones Cup Invitational to be the same.

“We (his current players) have to figure out ways to score against bigger opponents. They would have to figure that out,” Reyes said after a 90-77 loss to Canada on opening day. “The veteran players went through that exact process years ago.”

The Canadians had the size and heft advantage in almost every position against Gilas and exploited that to the hilt as the Filipinos struggled all game long in one-on-one match-ups.

Castro was with the 2013 team that Reyes coached to the championship here, while Romeo has emerged as an international superstar with his ability to break down defenses and score in dazzling ways.

The 6-foot Castro has even gone on to become Asia’s point guard in the last two continental championships, averaging 11.8 points and three assists and 16.7 points in the 2013 and 2015 editions, respectively.

Romeo, meanwhile, broke through internationally in this same tournament under Tab Baldwin in 2015 and averaged 15.2 points in just over 18 minutes per game, a stint that has practically made him a shoo-in in every national team that’s being assembled.

Without saying it, Reyes would obviously want to see someone like Castro and Romeo emerge from this crop of Nationals, and if that happens, this could be a promising campaign for Gilas despite the opening day setback.