SMART CLARK GIGA CITY — Jayson Castro is now listed as day-to-day after getting hurt in Game Four of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup Finals Sunday night.
The 34-year-old exited at the 9:35-mark of the third after grimacing in pain on the floor following a drive. It took him a moment to back on his feet, and needed assistance from teammates on his way to the bench.
He never returned to the match, leaving with just two points, two assists, and two rebounds to his name. Worse still, the Tropang Giga lost, 88-98.
TNT head coach Bong Ravena then confirmed that bone spurs on the knee affected Castro. The veteran averaged 13.3 points and 7.0 assists in the series’ first three games, including 15 markers and 10 dimes in Game Three.
“His knee bone spur is bothering him,” he wrote in a text message to Tiebreaker Times a few hours after the loss.
“Papatanggal after this conference.”
The 12-year veteran hasn’t been at a hundred percent since the bubble season started. Calf issues hounded him back in the eliminations, and he has been playing through pain ever since.
Castro now joins Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. on the Tropang Giga’s injury list. The 27-year-old guard aggravated his calf injury in the series opener exactly a week ago, and he’s since been on the sidelines.
Now, Ravena and the rest of TNT have their fingers crossed that the decorated floor general will be available to play in Game Five on Wednesday — a do-or-die situation for them as they are down 3-1.
“Day-to-day siya. We’ll see if kaya on Wednesday,” the seasoned bench tactician wrote.
“If not, next man up.”
