Jayson Castro turns back the hands of time to get Finals MVP Plum
'The Blur' has emerged as the Season 49 PBA Governors' Cup Finals MVP.
Jayson Castro played like a youngster once again in the Finals as he averaged 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in the series to win the award, and lead the TNT Tropang Giga to its 10th championship of the franchise.
The 38-year-old Castro's leadership was very evident in Game 6 where they finished Barangay Ginebra to capture the season-opening title. He was the one responsible in executing plays that always killed the rally of the Gin Kings, not only in the championship-clinching game but all throughout the series.
Castro's consistency made him the unanimous choice for the award handed out by the PBA Press Corps and presented by Honda, beating out teammates Calvin Oftana and Roger Pogoy.
He became the oldest player to win the coveted individual honor, surpassing Barangay Ginebra guard and close pal LA Tenorio, who was 36 years of age when he was named Finals MVP during the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble in Clark, Pampanga.
"Sobrang na-appreciate ko ito. Sa age kong ganito," said Asia's two-time best point guard about the plum that he received.
This marked the third Finals MVP for Castro, but first in 13 years or since winning the same honor during the 2010-11 Philippine Cup and 2011 Commissioner's Cup title series.
According to league chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, Castro is the seventh player to win Finals MVP at least three times along with former MVPs Eric Menk and Danny Ildefonso.
There were also players who won the award four times. They were eighth-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, two-time MVP James Yap, Danny Siegel, and Tenorio.
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It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for NLEX, which found itself down by 11 early in the game. But the tide shifted in the second quarter, where the Road Warriors erupted for a 34-12 run behind the efforts of Robert Bolick, Dominic Fajardo, Tony Semerad, and Xyrus Torres to seize a 52-36 halftime lead.
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Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 15 points, while Richard Escoto added 14. The Bossing, despite falling short in the finals, had an impressive run in the preliminaries, including a comeback win over NLEX, 95-90, earlier in the tournament.
The championship serves as a timely boost for NLEX heading into the new PBA season. Last year, the Road Warriors finished second in the Philippine Cup eliminations before bowing out in the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine. Deputy mentor Adonis Tierra called the shots in their last two games, steering the team to become the second straight PBA squad to lift the Kadayawan crown, following Rain or Shine’s sweep in 2024. NLEX closed the tournament with a 3-1 card, their lone loss coming at the hands of Blackwater.
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Troy Mallillin contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while newcomer Jed Mendoza impressed in his debut with 16 points.
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All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
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Game schedule (HKT):
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