Photo from Fiba.com
Terrence Romeo couldn’t be more grateful that Jayson Castro postponed his impending retirement from the national team.
“I’m so thankful that kuya Jayson didn’t retire from Gilas,” Romeo said in Filipino.
Castro first called it a career back in July last year following the Philippines’ failed campaign in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, though, wooed Castro back to the team.
Castro continued his sensational play in the international stage, leading Gilas in the 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers, averaging a team-best 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists as he further validated his position as the country’s best guard.
Romeo was left in awe watching Castro in the Philippines’ 90-83 victory over Chinese Taipei.
“I had a flashback to my younger days when I was watching my idols. I couldn’t help but stand from my seat, wave at them. It’s a great feeling and at the same time, I’m just so proud of them,” Romeo said.
“I’m so excited for everything kuya Jayson did. Every time he scored, I was cheering him. Imagine that, he was my roommate and my teammate and I really learned a lot from him. And now that I’m watching him, I’m just so thankful that I know kuya Jayson.”
Romeo missed the first window of the Asian qualifiers due to a knee contusion, leaving much of the scoring load on Castro.
But though he wasn’t in uniform, the former Far Eastern University standout made sure that he was one with the 11,444-strong crowd cheering Gilas at Smart Araneta Coliseum as the Philippines went 2-0 in their Group B assignments.
Romeo was apologetic for his absence but said that he wasn’t worried at all knowing how talented other Gilas guards are, especially with Roger Pogoy and Kiefer Ravena living up to expectations.
“I expected it from them. I know they’re always ready and they have the experience. So I wasn’t worried because I know they’ll step up and they have the talent,” he said.
Still, Romeo gave all the praise to Castro, whom he described as “one of a kind.”
”The Blur is on a different level. No one replace a Jayson Castro,” said Romeo, who is pegged as the heir apparent to Castro’s throne as the lead guard for Gilas Pilipinas. “I can say that I can try, and I’ll be fortunate if I can match him or even just get close to his level, but there’s only one Jayson Castro.”