IS he the heir apparent to TNT veteran star Jayson Castro?
Terrafirma rookie playmaker Mark Nonoy showed a glimpse of his potential in the Dyip’s stunning upset of Castro’s Tropang Giga in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last Wednesday night.
The 5-foot-9 Nonoy torched TNT with a career-high 33 points, on top of four rebounds and four assists in the Dyip’s 117-108 win—their first and only triumph—in the mid-season meet.
Tabbed 10th overall by Terrafirma in this season’s annual rookie Draft, Nonoy said he was inspired playing against Castro, his childhood idol.
“Siguro na-inspire ako kay Jayson Castro kasi first time naming naglaban,” the former University of Santo Tomas and La Salle standout said. “Kumbaga, since childhood ko, napapanood ko na siya since grade school ako. Kumbaga, isa siya sa PBA player na na-inspire ko iyong sarili ko dahil sa kanya.
“Kanina, naging confident ako kasi gusto kong ma-challenge kasi idol ko iyon. Sobrang thankful ako kasi na-overcome ko, nakapaglaro naman ako ng maayos,” he added.
Nonoy also got some advice from Castro whose blinding speed and ability to score in bunches are being likened to the southpaw Nonoy.
“Konting advice lang. Pero more on noong second half, medyo focused na sila kumbaga gusto na nilang dumikit sa amin. Pero noong first half, nag-congratulate ako sa kanya noong timeout,” Nonoy said. “So, parang may piece of advice na din naman siya sa akin.”
Nonoy only signed up with the Dyip after the season-opening Governors’ Cup due to his commitment with Iloilo in the MPBL.
So far, so good.
“Tinrabaho ko ito. Isa ito sa pangarap ko. Noong nakatungtong na ako, kailangan ko mag-build ng sariling pangalan, kung ano makakatulong sa team namin,” he said.
“Katulad kanina, napaganda iyong team namin dahil sa shooting namin. Nahawa hawa na kami. So, siguro, I belong (in) this league.”