Stopping Castro is Rain or Shine’s ‘big problem’

MANILA, Philippines – How do you stop an almost blurred figure blowing past defenders, driving to the ring at will, making swift passes to open teammates, or pulling up and knocking down one three-pointer after another?

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao has yet to figure it out.

“Jayson Castro is shooting the 3 really well. They put a lot of defenders on him,” the multi-titled coach said of Talk ’N Text’s leader and go-to player.

“Lahat ng guwardiya ng Purefoods ginamit na sa kanya, yung security guard na lang ng Araneta ang hindi ginamit sa kanya. Kaya hindi natin alam paano dedepensahan yan. That’s going to be a big problem for us.”

(Purefoods put all of its guards on him, the only guard they didn’t use is Araneta’s security guard. So we don’t know how we’ll defend that.)

Whatever it is, Guiao must have a solution by Wednesday, April 15 when the Elasto Painters clash with the Tropang Texters for game 1 of the best-of-7 2015 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

All eyes will be on Castro on Wednesday after his jaw-dropping performance in the last two games of Talk ’N Text’s semifinals encounter with Purefoods. The speedy playmaker averaged 30 points and 7 assists in his last two outings, and shot a combined 15-of-20 from downtown and 21-of-35 from the field. 

(READ: At his best, there’s no one like Jayson Castro) 

Given Guiao’s tried and tested style of constantly rotating his players, it’s likely he will put various faces on Castro guard duty, including Gilas Pilipinas teammates Gabe Norwood and Paul Lee. 

Lee believes no one man can singlehandedly shackle Castro. It has to be a group effort at all times.

“It’s all about team defense kasi kung one-on-one mahihirapan kami kay Jayson,” he explained. “Kailangan i-break down namin lahat kasi masyadong magaling na player si Jayson. Pag gumamit siya ng ball screen kailangan pati yung nag-set ng screen bigyan mo rin ng pansin e.” 

(It’s all about team defense because if it’s one-on-one we’ll have a hard time with Jayson. We need to break everything down because Jayson is too good a player. When he uses a ball screen, we also need to check the screener.)

He mused that suffocating Castro is not the end of Rain or Shine’s problems. To him, the Painters must not forget about the little things that make the Texters so dangerous.

(IN VINES: Castro delivers finishing blows for TNT)

“Hindi mo masasabi na mananalo kayo sa game pag na-shut down mo si Jayson,” Lee said. “Pero imposible mo rin siya ma-shut down e. Ang mangyayari, hindi pa rin sure na panalo kayo kasi may Ranidel, J-Wash, halos lahat may role sa team nila.”

(You can’t say that you’ll win if you shut down Jayson. At the same time it’s impossible to shut him down. What will happen is you won’t be assured of a win because there’s still Ranidel and J-Wash, nearly everybody has a role on their team.) 

Guiao, who is gunning for his 7th PBA title as coach, also sees the flip side to Talk ’N Text leaning on Castro.

“The only reason I am hopeful, aside from being a lot healthier this conference, is Talk ’N Text is probably in a transition right now from the Jimmy Alapag era to the Jayson Castro era,” he explained.

“Once that transition is complete, Talk ’N Text is almost invincible. In the meantime, we’re hoping that with the transition, there’s probably chinks in the armor and we can find it and we’ll be able to complete the championship.”

Castro vs Lee 

Interestingly, the spotlight for this Finals has been on the match-up between two of the league’s top guards Lee and Castro. Both are in the running for Best Player of the Conference and both will likely get cracks at breaking each other’s ankles throughout the series.

“Paul Lee is Paul Lee,” Castro remarked, adding he is looking forward to guarding his Gilas backcourt partner. 

“Ever since naman kapag naglalaro kami ni Paul Lee, minsan nagkakabantayan kami, ine-enjoy namin kasi magkaibigan naman kami. Siyempre gusto namin din manalo yung team namin. Naglalaro kami para sa mga team namin.” 

(Ever since Paul Lee and I play, and sometimes we guard each other, we just enjoy it because we’re friends. Of course we both want our teams to win. We play for our teams.) 

Lee put up impressive numbers in Rain or Shine’s own semifinals tilt with Meralco, though not as explosive nor as defining as Castro’s.

In the Painters’ sweep, Lee had 20 points a game, including 23 each in the last two. He also went 6-of-8 from three-point range in games 2 and 3.

(READ: TNT’s Johnson ready for Rain or Shine’s physicality)

It remains to be seen which of the two can sustain their high level of play. Both are of the team-first mindset, and that could only pave the way for more nights of double-doubles or even triple-doubles.

“They say you’re just as good as your last game. Every game kailangan ko mag-perform on offense and defense para lang matulungan yung teammate ko (Every game I need to perform on offense and defense to help my teammates),” Castro said. 

“For sure they have a game plan for me but I’ll try to score. But at the same time to create for my teammates. That’s our game. Hindi naman lagi mag-end up yung bola sa akin (The ball won’t always end up with me).”

He added that court awareness is something he will be more conscious of in the games, given that he will inevitably be double-teamed. 

For Castro, this series won’t be determined by the accuracy of its shooters, the energy of its big men or even the potency of himself or Lee. Yearning will tip the scale. 

“Kung sino talaga ang mas may gusto. Sila sinasabi nila lagi silang runner-up, kami matagal na kami hindi nagcha-champion. Yun yung motivation ko.” (It’s for who wants it more. They say they’re always the runner-up, for us it’s been so long since our last championship. And that’s my motivation.) – Rappler.com