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**HoopNightmare** · 11-16-2007, 01:21 AM

PBL star to stay amateur

WITH HIS athleticism and attitude, Jason Castro is certainly be a big catch in the pro league’s annual draft pick next month.

But the prolific Harbour Center guard passed up that rare opportunity yesterday after revealing his decision to play for the national team for one last time.

"Playing in the PBA is everybody’s dream but playing for flag and country is something you have to embrace and experience. Walang katulad ang maging member ng national team" said Castro. "I’m still young, so I decided to forego my plan of turning pro this year."

The soft-spoken Pampanga pride is being considered as one of the probable members of the Philippine team that will play, and hopefully restore the country’s pride in the SEA Games which is slated in Thailand this December.

Castro, who made a history in the PBL after winning back-to-back MVP titles, just turned 21 last month. He also played a key role in Harbour title-clinching win in the recent Unity Cup.

Castro’s decision was warmly welcomed by amateur basketball godfather and Harbour Center owner Mikee Romero.

"I’m glad Jason made that decision, at least we are assured of having one good guy in the team," said Romero. "That is a great sacrifice on his part because most of the big stars in the amateur ranks are all set to join the pro ranks."

Erick Arejola, tasked by Romero to supervise the ongoing tryouts for the RP team, also heaved a big sigh of relief and said: "With Jason around, we’re assured of at least one go-to-guy in the team."

Also one reason why he deferred his decision to turn pro is his plan to finish his studies at the Philippine Christian University where he’s taking up a business management course.

If given another chance, he also wants to play for the PCU Dolphins next season.

"I still want to play for PCU next year, " said Castro, who played for the Harbour-RP team in the SEABA Club Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia last April.

Meantime, RP team coach Junel Baculi was also overjoyed by Castro’s decision to stay in the amateur ranks for at least another year.

"I salute him for doing this patriotic act," said Baculi. "I hope others will follow."

**HoopNightmare** · 11-16-2007, 01:22 AM

BRUNEI — Jason Castro produced a performance worthy of his MVP status but the Philippine training team still lost to import-powered LG Sakers of Korea, 87-102, in the Brunei Cup Monday at the National Indoor Stadium here.

After scoring only six points in their 89-79 win over Jordan All-Stars last Sunday, the PBL back-to-back MVP winner made his presence felt by coming through with a brilliant all-around show to lead the team with 19 points on an impressive 7-of-13 shooting.
But Castro’s effort went down the drain as LG’s imports Odartey Blackson and Calvin Warner imposed their will in the second quarter to take the fight out of the RP training squad.

Castro, who also had three rebounds and an assist, gave the RP training team a 40-37 advantage when he completed a three-point following a gutsy drive in front Warner, a play the drew thunderous applause from the pre-dominantly Filipino crowd.
But it proved to be their last taste of the lead as the Sakers came through with an avalanche of baskets through the efforts of Blackson and Warner.

The two imports combined for 53 points with Warner, exploiting his size advantage to the hilt, topscoring for the Sakers with 32 points.

The win was the second straight for the Sakers while the Harbour Centre-backed RP training team fell to 1-1, the same record of PBA’s Sta. Lucia which absorbed a 67-82 loss to Darwin All-Stars last Sunday.

RP coach Junel Baculi offered no excuses for the defeat, saying: "We lost to a better team. Their imports outplayed and outscored us."

Still, Baculi was pleased with how his boys persevered in carrying out their mission, especially the way they mixed up their defensive coverages on two imports.

"The players defended well and hustled at every opportunity but their imports were simply too hot to handle," said RP team manager Erick Arejola. "But it’s not yet over for us, we hope we can do better next time."

The training team’s defeat exposed the need for tall and athletic big men when the country defends its title in the SEA Games this December in Thailand.

Former pro Allan Salangsang, who topscored for RP the last time with 24 points, was held to just 10 points after being shadowed by Blackson most of the time.

**HoopNightmare** · 11-16-2007, 01:23 AM

SINGAPORE – If the price is right, RP team standout Jason Castro could be heading to a more lucrative stint in Australia next year and not to the PBA.

This after the 5-foot-10 Castro caught the fancy of one of the officials of the Singapore Slingers after helping the SEA Games-bound RP team to a come-from-behind 100-93 win Tuesday here.

“Someone from the Slingers approached me and told me they’re looking for Filipinos to play for the team, he seemed interested in getting me,” said Castro in Filipino.

“If the offer is good I might try it but I hope I’ll be with some Filipinos so that I won’t get lonely,” Castro said.

The Singapore Slingers are campaigning in the Australia-based National Basketball League Hummer Championship.

The spitfirish Castro, who deferred plans to join the PBA draft to join the RP team in next month’s SEA Games in Thailand, impressed the Slingers with his lightning-quick moves and steady shooting.

He finished with 16 points, five assists, three steals and the same number of rebounds in 31 minutes of action.

Harbour Centre team owner and amateur basketball godfather Mikee Romero said he would not stand in Castro’s way if he would choose to play in the NBL, Australia’s version of the PBA.

“I’ll be more than happy and proud that one of my boys would be given that golden chance to see action in the Australian League,” said Romero. “And if things work out well, it could be a way for him to play in the NBA.”

The Slingers are just into their second season in the 13-team NBL and have made progress in their campaign in the Hummer Championship. – Joey Villar

**Lebron23** · 11-16-2007, 02:08 AM

"Joel23 is the Tony Parker of Asia"

**onono1** · 11-16-2007, 06:21 AM

And Hoopnightmare is the unofficial agent-publicist of Jason Castro

**warren99** · 11-16-2007, 06:44 AM

Tony Parker of Southeast Asia... really?

**chokois** · 11-16-2007, 11:14 AM

He is, i think, the best amateur PG in Southeast Asia/Philippines right now. without a doubt. such a future for the RP Team. But we have a lot of PG/Guards now. We have a young, wiry Gabe Norwood, etc.

**onono1** · 11-16-2007, 11:23 AM

Originally posted by chokois

He is, i think, the best amateur PG in Southeast Asia/Philippines right now. without a doubt. such a future for the RP Team. But we have a lot of PG/Guards now. We have a young, wiry Gabe Norwood, etc.

No doubt, small but wily 5-8 jason castro is good. But the philippines need talented pointguards who are at least taller than 5 ft. 11 to compete in a higher level international competition such as FIBA Asia, etc...

**hawke12** · 11-16-2007, 01:10 PM

how come the Best the PG in the country not playing in the PBA? maybe we should put him next to Alapag, helterbrand, Racela, Tenorio and all the Starting PG in the PBA...

**hawke12** · 11-16-2007, 01:13 PM

Philippine national team assistant coaches Louie Alas said upon returning from Johor Baru, Malaysia where they scouted Malaysian national team was told by the Malaysian national team coach Sim Sin Heng that the 2007 FIBA-Asia 12th placer Indonesian national team are now training in Chinese Taipei.

Indonesia national team, which is forefronted by the best point guard in Southeast Asia (excluding the Philippines) and former US NCAA standout Mario Wuysang (176-G-79), played a very decent performance in the last Asian Championship in Japan placing even higher than strong Middle East and East Asian basketball countries like Kuwait, UAE, Hong Kong and even India. That should make them a force to reckon with.

Aside from the Philippines vs Indonesia tussle, a classic match up will also going to occur in the coming Southeast Asian Games for sure as the Indonesian top point guard Wuysang, who averaged a very decent 15 points per game in the last Asian Championship, will be pitted against Philippine Basketball League back-to-MVP Jason Castro, who is also being eyed by Australian National Basketball League's Singapore Slingers.

The Thais, for their part, are reportedly tapping three Thai-Americans to backstop their SEA Games campaign.

The Thailand national team can also be remembered as the team that gave FIBA-Asia bound Team Pilipinas a scare in the last SEABA Championship. Thailand national team on that said game even led the Team Pilipinas in the first quarter 24-23 before collapsing to a 76-96 final score. Thai star Piyapong Piroon led the Thais during that game.

The Thailand five also managed to beat the Philippine's NBC-Selection Team, which was consisted of former PBA players and amateurs, 82-73 in the recently concluded Chief Minister International Basketball Tournament in Malaysia.

whattttt???

**Project_Olympics** · 11-16-2007, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by hawke12

Philippine national team assistant coaches Louie Alas said upon returning from Johor Baru, Malaysia where they scouted Malaysian national team was told by the Malaysian national team coach Sim Sin Heng that the 2007 FIBA-Asia 12th placer Indonesian national team are now training in Chinese Taipei.

Indonesia national team, which is forefronted by the best point guard in Southeast Asia (excluding the Philippines) and former US NCAA standout Mario Wuysang (176-G-79), played a very decent performance in the last Asian Championship in Japan placing even higher than strong Middle East and East Asian basketball countries like Kuwait, UAE, Hong Kong and even India. That should make them a force to reckon with.

Aside from the Philippines vs Indonesia tussle, a classic match up will also going to occur in the coming Southeast Asian Games for sure as the Indonesian top point guard Wuysang, who averaged a very decent 15 points per game in the last Asian Championship, will be pitted against Philippine Basketball League back-to-MVP Jason Castro, who is also being eyed by Australian National Basketball League's Singapore Slingers.

The Thais, for their part, are reportedly tapping three Thai-Americans to backstop their SEA Games campaign.

The Thailand national team can also be remembered as the team that gave FIBA-Asia bound Team Pilipinas a scare in the last SEABA Championship. Thailand national team on that said game even led the Team Pilipinas in the first quarter 24-23 before collapsing to a 76-96 final score. Thai star Piyapong Piroon led the Thais during that game.

The Thailand five also managed to beat the Philippine's NBC-Selection Team, which was consisted of former PBA players and amateurs, 82-73 in the recently concluded Chief Minister International Basketball Tournament in Malaysia.

whattttt???

WHAHAHAHA!!! that's a joke!! can he beat jimmy alapag or jay2 helterbrand, or willie miller or jason castro, etc. on a 1-on-1 match?!
the guy who wrote this article should think first!!

**sergio23** · 11-16-2007, 02:21 PM

maybe

**Phantim3dx** · 11-16-2007, 03:20 PM

whether the outcome is an overall win for team rp in the S.e. asia tourney or whatever, the last i recall basketball consisted of 5 people on the court at any given time for a specific team, 10 total.

to all fellow filos, just thought, bfore we start comparing local or fil am talent to nba stars(which we truly aren't even worthy to do) could we please send one first even to the nbdl or some other league thats at least better competition than the PBA.

Originally posted by Project_Olympics

WHAHAHAHA!!! that's a joke!! can he beat jimmy alapag or jay2 helterbrand, or willie miller or jason castro, etc. on a 1-on-1 match?!
the guy who wrote this article should think first!!

**rhk111** · 11-16-2007, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by Phantim3dx

to all fellow filos, just thought, bfore we start comparing local or fil am talent to NBA stars (which we truly aren't even worthy to do) could we please send one first even to the nbdl or some other league thats at least better competition than the PBA.

Ouch.

But, well, fans will always tend fantasize about the competence of our local players, in relation to the NBA ....

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Jason Castro - the Tony Parker of SouthEastAsia

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