Jayson Castro’s message did wonders as TNT took Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
RR Pogoy and some members of TNT paid a visit to injured star Jayson Castro at his home in Guagua, Pampanga last Tuesday, March 11.
Castro is coming off a surgery on his torn patellar tendon in his right knee, forcing him to sit out the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
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But the Tropang Giga captain still made sure to guide his teammates, sharing with them a message that strengthened their resolve against Ginebra.
“Nag-re-recover na si Kuya Jayson. Before kami umuwi, sabi niya, ‘Ger, sabihan mo 'yong mga boys na 'wag kayong matakot maglaro. Laruin ninyo lang 'yong laro ninyo. Kahit na wala si Kuya Jayson, kaya ninyo 'yan,'” said Pogoy, who relayed Castro’s message to the rest of the team.
RR Pogoy kisses his hot hands during Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals encounter between the TNT Tropang Giga and the Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
TNT took Castro's message to heart, zooming to a 29-18 lead before weathering a late Ginebra run to come away with the pulsating 95-89 victory.
Pogoy had 15 points, including five triples, to backstop top scorer Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (34).
[RELATED STORY: Cone says Gin Kings 'little bit confused' in Game 1 loss to defensive-minded Tropang Giga]
But while the Tropang Giga proved they could still win without the two-time Best Point Guard in Asia, Pogoy and the rest of the squad are expecting a major pushback from Ginebra come Game 2.
The two teams meet again on Sunday, March 16 at the same venue.