Guiao says ROS out to pounce on injured Castro's absence

MANILA, Philippines — RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao believes the season-ending loss of TNT veteran star Jayson Castro to a knee injury provided the opportunity for his team to get back into the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semifinal series.

The 38-year-old long-time TNT top gunner sustained a fractured patellar on his right knee late in the Tropang Giga's 93-91 Game 2 triumph.

His sudden loss was greatly felt by the Tropang Giga as the Elasto Painters played with renewed fire on Sunday in pulling off a 103-98 Game 3 victory, thus cutting TNT's series lead to 2-1.

"Jayson is their stabilizer," said Guiao, moments after his team's breakthrough win. "I think (when) he is playing, his minutes are also being managed, it's around 20-plus minutes."

Castro, the Finals Most Valuable Player in TNT's recent Governors' Cup title conquest, averaged solid stats line of 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in the first two games of the best-of-seven series, numbers the Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes will have to look for from his bench for the rest of the series.

Guiao said TNT will certainly need to adjust in Castro's absence since the latter's vast playoff experience is what the Tropang Giga will miss from hereon.

"He plays quality minutes. It's really the time when he's on court that he is able to make his teammates around him better," explained the seven-time PBA champion coach.

And while Castro, nicknamed the "Blur" may not have the speed he used to have during his younger years, Guiao reasoned that what makes the long-time TNT combo guard dangerous even at this stage of his PBA career is his multi-faceted game.

"It's always been a problem on defense because he can assist, he can shoot the three, he can drive to the basket," said Guiao.

As Rain or Shine seeks to equalize the series this Wednesday in Game 4, Guiao said they will just have to be ready for any eventuality knowing that injuries can happen any time.

"Like I said before, we just need to be ready because such things (as injuries) happen. It happened to us with Caelan (Tiongson) last conference and we weren't able to play him," explained Guiao, referring to the rookie forward's injury during their Governors' Cup semifinal series loss to the Tropang Giga.

"It's a good thing they were able to play Jayson and they were able to get two wins with him already," he added.

Nonetheless Guiao, who felt bad for TNT due to Castro's injury, said they intend to take advantage of the veteran star guard's absence.

"It's a big deal for us and it's still a big break for us that they're not able to utilize him. But of course, you don't wish that on anybody," he said.

"Like I said, it's during this time (of the conference) that players break down (due to injuries)."