Feeling OK, Castro ready for return

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Help is on the way for TNT.

After falling in its conference-opening game to Meralco, 94-89, on Friday, the KaTropa will have star guard Jayson Castro back in their lineup for their game against Phoenix on Sunday.

The four-time Best Player of the Conference awardee is well on his way to a comeback after a hamstring injury that he incurred late in the 2017 Philippine Cup semifinals.

“I’m OK. Hopefully on Sunday, I’ll be able to play,” he said in Filipino.

Coach Nash Racela is also optimistic that Castro will finally be cleared to play after the Guagua, Pampanga-born guard suited up in uniform on Friday.

“That’s the plan,” the mentor declared.

Castro shared that he just recently returned to practice, joining two full sessions in the past week while still feeling his way back into the court.

“It’s better that I didn’t play today because I know I still haven’t gotten my rhythm back,” he said. “In those two days, I really went at it hard. I hope I’ll be ready on Sunday.”

Castro also said that it was too early to judge the team and its import Lou Amundson after just one game.

“I can see the team is OK. We can’t gauge the team and the import’s performance because it’s just one game. Maybe next game, (Amundson) can contribute more,” he said.