Jayson Castro sat out TNT’s PBA Philippine Cup match versus Blackwater Thursday due to calf tightness, but the Tropang GIGA hardly felt his absence.
And that’s thanks to Simon Enciso.
The 29-year-old seized the opportunity to step up in lieu of the star guard, finishing with 16 points to help the Tropang Giga to a 109-96 victory.
Enciso made the season’s first half-court shot at the end of the first. That then sparked his side’s breakaway en route to their fifth straight win.
“Si Jayson did not play tonight, pero nandoon pa rin si Simon,” lauded head coach Bong Ravena post-game.
“It complements us really big.”
Looking at TNT’s past games, the cager from San Francisco, California seemed due for a breakout performance.
After scoring just a total of five points in versus Alaska and Terrafirma, Enciso scored 10 in their 107-88 win over San Miguel Beer.
Three nights later, he had 13 points as he was among the seven Texters that scored in double figures in a 110-91 dismantling of Phoenix Super LPG.
Thursday came and his best game yet happened, which saw him bury four of the Tropang Giga’s 13 three-pointers in the victory.
“Simon has been consistent especially defensively. Now, ‘yung offense niya nakakakuha na kami ng numbers from him.”
