SMART CLARK GIGA CITY – Jayson Castro and Ray Parks are both ruled out of TNT’s do-or-die Game Five tussle with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup Finals Wednesday.
Tropang Giga head coach Bong Ravena confirmed that the two aren’t fit to see action in the 6:00 p.m match due to their respective injuries, indeed a massive hit in their bid to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series.
“Won’t be able to play tonight,” was the short response of the seasoned bench tactician via text message to Tiebreaker Times hours before tip-off.
Castro limped out of the court with 9:35 remaining in the third quarter of Game Four last Sunday following a drive to the bucket. It was later confirmed that the bone spurs on his left knee bothered him.
The 34-year-old, who’s actually been playing through pain this season due to a nagging calf issue, never returned to the match since. He left with just two points, two assists, and two rebounds to his name.
Parks, meanwhile, hasn’t played in the last three games after aggravating a calf injury. It was the same injury that kept him from playing in TNT’s debut in the season restart last Oct. 11 versus the Alaska Aces.
That was a total downer for the 27-year-old, considering that he was coming off a stellar showing in the semis versus Phoenix Super LPG. There, he averaged 27.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.
Ginebra head coach Tim Cone said that the Tropang Giga losing both Castro and Parks is the equivalent of the Gin Kings losing main guys like Scottie Thompson and Stanley Pringle.
“They’re down a couple of really, really key players. That would be like us losing Scottie and Stanley,” said the league’s most accomplished mentor. “And how difficult would it be for us to win without Scottie and Stanley?”
The absence of the former Gilas Pilipinas guards may bode well for the Barangay, who aspires to end a 13-year title drought in the all-Filipino wars and also tie the fabled Crispa franchise with 13 championships.
Still, Ginebra doesn’t want to take any chances. Top floor general LA Tenorio expects no less than a revolt from TNT even without two of their leaders, especially now that it is fighting for dear life.
The Gin Kings need not to look that far for a warning. Last Sunday, just as when everybody thought that it was all but settled when they led by 18 early in the final chapter, the Tropa suddenly got their bearings back.
Behind the trio of Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, and Poy Erram plus seldom-used point guard Almond Vosotros, the deficit was melted down to just three points twice inside the last three minutes of the match.
Tenorio, though, was there to save the Barangay with his timely triples. But that doesn’t make them less worried about heading into tonight’s game.
“Ang Talk N Text, kulang man sila or kumpleto sila, they play the same way,” said the 34-year-old, who’s gunning for his first Philippine Cup title. “I mean, marami pa rin silang firepower. Karamihan dun ay mga beterano rin.”
