Jayson Castro was the most steady local contributor for TNT in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals.
Jayson Castro has proven time and again that he remains as the heart and soul of TNT Tropang Giga.
That was none more evident in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals, when he helped the Tropang Giga capture their 10th championship on Friday, November 8.
At 38, Castro remained the stabilizer of a TNT team that feature super import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, as well as young guns Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana.
The unassuming superstar, who won the FIBA Best Point Guard in Asia twice during his heydays, was adjudged the Finals MVP after averaging 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in the six-game conquest of Brgy. Ginebra.
In true Jayson Castro fashion, he deflected credit to his teammates.
“Salamat sa inyo. Alam kong mas maraming deserve pero nakita niyo yung effort ko. Tsaka yung MVP na yun di lang ako, as a team talaga yun,” said Castro.
The Blur wasn’t just being modest.
The now nine-time PBA champion pointed out the fact that no one from the Tropang Giga emerged as a candidate for the Best Player of the Conference award despite topping Group A after the elimination round and having the PBA's best overall record.
San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo won the nod for a record-extending 11th time, with other candidates including Ginebra forward Japeth Aguilar.
“Kung makita nyo naman even sa Best Player of the Conference wala sa aming candidate kasi we played as a team,” said Castro. “Yun yung ano namin, kung sino yung swerte susuportahan namin. Kung sino yung maganda laro sinusuportahan namin.”
“Yung MVP na yun, para sakin, hindi ako yun kundi yung buong team,” he added.
At the end of the day, the championship trophy weighed more for Castro and the Tropang Giga, who have now won the last two editions of the Governors' Cup.