It’s never easy to carry the burden of defeat, but that helped Jayson Castro and TNT greatly in completing their ascension back to the top.
Driven by the lessons from their heartbreaking loss in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals last September, the Tropang Giga defeated Barangay Ginebra in six games to become the new Governors’ Cup champions on Friday night.
“Actually, isa ‘yun sa mga motivation namin,” said the ‘Blur’ moments after their title-clinching 97-93 win at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Castro and the Tropa came into Season 47 as the Philippine Cup champions and, of course, wanted to start another dynasty by defending their throne. They were one win away from doing so after capturing a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 championship series against San Miguel, but couldn’t close it out in Game 6. Sans key cogs — including Castro — due to injuries, TNT got blown out, 114-96.
Castro did return for the all-important Game 7 two nights later.
The 36-year-old was bothered by ankle and shoulder issues, but shrugged it all off as he carried the team on his back with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
Nineteen of his points came in the third quarter alone, but his efforts weren’t enough as the Beermen exploded in the fourth quarter on the way to the 119-97 victory to reclaim the Perpetual trophy it won for half a decade (2015-19).
“Every time na naaalala namin ‘yung series na ‘yun … ang dami naming opportunity para ma-close out ‘yung series na ‘yun. Kaso, ‘yun nga, natalo kami sa Game Seven,” recalled the 15-year veteran.
The Tropa found themselves in another Game 6 with a 3-2 lead this time against the reigning two-time Governors’ Cup champions, so Castro and Co. made sure history didn’t repeat itself with a simple mindset.
“So, thinking namin this game, sabi namin, it’s a do-or-die talaga,” said the 36-year-old floor general. “Once na nanalo ‘yung Ginebra, Game Seven, matatalo ulit kami kasi ‘yung momentum nasa kanila.
“At the same time, if Game Seven, alam naman natin Ginebra. napakagaling sa ganun. And then kami, ang dami naming mga bago na player na hindi pa nakaka-experience ng ganon,” added the franchise lifer.
“So, ‘yun lang ‘yung sinasabi ko sa kanila, na ‘wag nilang isipin na it’s Game Six, na pwede pa kami matalo; it’s a do-or-die game.”
No doubt that it worked. TNT clinched its second title in five conferences, giving the flagship MVP franchise its first-ever Governors’ Cup crown. Their latest success couldn’t be any sweeter for Castro, who’s mighty proud of how they all overcame ‘adversities’ on the way to striking gold.
“We deserve to win kasi pinaghirapan namin ‘to. Ang daming adversities na pinagdaanan namin during training camp pa lang, and then nagpalit ng import, ang daming na-injure during Finals. Pero nandun pa rin kami, lumalaban,” he said.
“So, sabi namin sa isa’t-isa na kailangan namin [maipanalo] ‘tong Game 6 na ‘to, kailangan namin mag-champion. Nag-respond naman like especially Mikey, Calvin, big game; Poy. Halos lahat naman nag-contribute,” he added.
The ghost of the past has been exorcised, but TNT isn’t totally forgetting about that one night seven months ago. It taught the entire crew valuable pointers that they’d be keeping in mind in their bid to win more titles, said Castro.
“Isang malaking lesson din sa’min ‘yun, para sa mga darating na championship game namin. Magagamit namin ‘yun,” the surefire Hall of Famer said.
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The 2023 PBA Governors Cup Finals is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
