EVEN in his absence, TNT continues to feel the impact of a Jayson Castro.
Guard Roger Pogoy shared how the team's fallen leader boosted the morale of the Tropang Giga behind his short words of wisdom prior to the opener of their PBA Commissioner's Cup finals against the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
Pogoy and several other TNT players were able to chat with the team's long-time, acknowledged leader after paying him a visit at his Pampanga abode a few days before Game 1.
Castro is currently recovering from a knee surgery after suffering a patella tear during the semifinals series against Rain or Shine.
He was declared out for the rest of the season after leading the franchise to the Governors' Cup championship against Ginebra last conference where he was named Finals MVP
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It was during that visit in Pampanga when the 'Blur' reassured the boys they can compete toe-to-toe with the talent-laden Kings despite his absence.
"Sabihan mo yung mga boys na huwag kayong matakot maglaro. Laruin ninyo lang yung laro ninyo. Kahit na wala si Kuya Jayson, kaya ninyo yan," Pogoy recalled Castro's words just when the Tropang Giga was about to leave and travel back to Manila.
The encouraging words obviously rubbed on the entire team, with Pogoy leading the way as the Tropang Giga kicked off the series opener like a house on fire by scoring all of his nine points from three-point range and pushed the team in front, 29-18, at the end of the first period and never to look back again.
The 32-year old Cebuano guard went on and finished with 15 points - all from beyond the arc - in a solid support to the game-high 34 points of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
In all, TNT hit 14-of-37 from three-point shot on the way to the 95-89 win.
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"Hopefully, we can sustain that. That's the shooting we need," winning coach Chot Reyes later said in the post-game presser.
Thanks in part to Jayson's encouraging words.(RG)
