For anyone watching SMART Gilas Pilipinas take on Japan in the opener of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers from their televisions, there was one instance where Jayson Castro was actively giving out instructions to his teammates from the sidelines.
But according to those who were able to witness the game live inside the Komazawa Gymnasium in Tokyo, the 31-year-old actually did something more than vocally guiding his fellow flag-bearers.
Based on some tweets, Castro apparently took the board being used by head coach Chot Reyes and mapped out schemes. It was confusing at first if there was any truth to it, until Castro and Reyes themselves confirmed such.
“Thats the kind of relationship that we have,” said Reyes on the whiteboard incident. “He teaches me on what to do and it’s my job to follow him. Every player has that right to tell the coaches on what they are seeing on the floor.
“And I I think that’s a big adjustment for us because Japan had a very effective zone defense against us.”
Castro, who has been with the Seniors’ team since 2013, shared that he had to take the whiteboard from his mentor as the defense employed by Japan was something he had seen before
“Yung defense nila sobrang effective. Since na-handle ako ni coach Chot before, parang yun play before I realized na magiging effective kasi they deny the shooter,” recalled Castro, who has spent a lot of time with Reyes, from the PBA to Gilas.
And that kind of assertiveness from Asia’s best point guard did wonders in the end. As he captained the ship with 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, SMART Gilas overcame the gutsy Akatsuki Five, 77-71.
Now the Nationals are about to fly back home in Manila to play Chinese-Taipei on Monday, November 27, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. The match is still set days from now, but Castro already has a few pointers for that bout.
“For us to win next game, [we should] limit turnovers — we had 15 [tonight],” he noted, “and offensive rebounds also.”
