TNT will not be deterred by the absence of veteran star playmaker Jayson Castro in the finals opposite Ginebra.
Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes said if and when Castro can, he would watch the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals and visit team practices to inspire his teammates.
“I’m sure basta kaya niya na. He’s currently recuperating,” Reyes said. “But as soon as he’s mobile enough, I’m sure he’s going to come and make his presence. Not only in the game, but pati sa practice,” he added.
Game 1 of the best-of-7 Big Dance comes off the wraps today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Castro, 38, recently went under the knife for a full-thickness patellar tendon tear in his right knee. He suffered the unfortunate injury in the second game of TNT’s semifinals clash with Rain or Shine.
Even without Castro, the Tropang Giga still pounced on the Elasto Painters and emerged with a 4-1 series win, thanks to players stepping up and making the big sacrifice like two-time best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who broke fasting on “Ramadan.”
He is willing to do it again in the finals.
“I broke it because as you get older, your body needs a lot more. I’m not that old but I turned 30. I needed to eat something. I needed to hydrate,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “More importantly, I needed to hydrate. I’ll see how I feel going into Game 1.
“But I’m going to err on the side that I’ll probably eat and then I’ll just make it up after ‘Ramadan’.”
Prolific court general Rey Nambatac is also hard-pressed to deliver to make up for Castro’s absence.
“Nabigla din ako sa nangyari noong na-injure si kuya Jayson so na-pressure talaga ako,” Nambatac said. “Pero, iyon nga, at least kahit paano na-overcome ko na iyong pressure na iyon.
“Na-realize ko na instead na bumaba iyong morale ko, tinake ko siya as motivation and as a positive na rin para mas lumabas pa iyong laro at makatulong pa sa team namin.”
