During his first seven years in the league, Jayson Castro was known as a speedster. He was a blazing ball of fire once he drove through the lane.
During his early days however, even he did not know when to stop. Fortunately for him, he had former league Most Valuable Player Jimmy Alapag to steer him on the right track.
Together they created magic, winning five championships together and being named co-Finals Most Valuable Player in two of those championships.
But when Alapag was shipped to the Meralco Bolts in 2015, Castro lost a teacher and a running-mate.
Last April 3, his wish was finally granted as the TNT Katropa received Terrence Romeo from Globalport. And he made sure to ease Romeo’s transition to his new team.
The now 10-year veteran is paying it forward.
“If we’re talking about Terrence, I think what’s key now is Jayson’s guidance,” shared TNT Katropa head coach Nash Racela after his side defeated Globalport, 128-114. “Si Jayson has been really embracing that role of guiding the other players, the younger players, and really leading them. He makes the point to talk to them, at least every day I see him in practice really talking to the players.
“How Jimmy guided him when he was starting out in the PBA, I think that’s exactly the role of Jayson now for his teammates.”
Romeo, on the other hand, is grateful to have the Best Point Guard in Asia on his side. Currently, the three-time scoring champion is struggling to find his rhythm as Sunday night was just his third game for the year.
“Dito medyo kinakapa ko pa. Nagpapasalamat talaga ako kay Jayson at kay Coach Nash dahil lagi nila ako nireremind na nandiyan yung mga kasama ko at lagi nila ako gina-guide.
“Yun nga matagal na ko hindi nakakapaglaro, naninibago pa ako. So ayun, mahaba naman pasensya nila, sabi nila sa akin na babalik ulit yan. Ayun, thankful ako at pagbubutihan ko ito,” said Romeo, who had 11 points and five turnovers in his debut.
Castro knows that him guiding Romeo will eventually bear fruit as he knows how important the scoring sensation is in ending TNT’s three-year title drought.
“Kapag may Terrence ka, talagang may threat talaga anytime umi-iskor basta gusto niya. Maganda para sa amin yun.”
