Jayson Castro believes that this is now the right time for TNT to end what has become a long PBA championship drought for the storied franchise.
It has been half a decade since the MVP Group’s crown jewel last won a chip when it conquered the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup at the expense of Rain or Shine.
And the team, now known as the Tropang GIGA, looks to relive those glory days in the compressed 2020 Philippine Cup to be held in a semi-bubble in Clark.
“Siguro ito na yung time,” said the 34-year-old in the media availability session Sunday, hours before the league reopens the season.
In a conference deemed to be a free-for-all, TNT is among the favorites given the formidable starting lineup it has been able to build.
Led of course by Castro, the Tropang GIGA 5 consists of vastly-improved Poy Erram, Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy, and Ray Parks.
“We have a good team. Especially may big man, yun yung number one problem namin before. Now we have Poy Erram na alam namin kung anong kaya niyang ibigay,” he said.
Some have even called that starting unit a Gilas Pilipinas crew since all five of them have played for the national team.
Castro, twice named as Asia’s best point guard, is aware of that but said that they never think of themselves that way.
“For me never naming inisip na ang starting five namin is a national team,” he said.
“We have a lot of new guys na kaya mag-contribute.”
TNT was able to scoop up younger talents like Simon Enciso, Jjay Alejandro, and Lervin Flores, as well as rookie Kib Montalbo.
For Castro, firm is his belief in their ability to contribute to the team. “Andami naming role player na kaya mag-contribute,” he said.
“Siguro kaya confident ako sa team namin dahil sa mga role player na yun,” added the six-time champion.
Castro himself is raring to win it all again for TNT, but he and the Tropang GIGA remain locked in on taking things step by step.
“Personally my goal is to win a championship kasi sobrang tagal na talaga,” he said. “Pero one game at a time, hindi namin iniisip na championship agad.
“Basta pinaka-main goal namin is maging top four, and then tignan natin kung saan aabot hanggang doon.”
TNT will make its debut later at 4 p.m. versus the Alaska Aces as both teams will take the honor of setting the tournament restart in motion.
