By REYNALD MAGALLON
Jayson Castro just got rewarded with a contract extension that will secure what could be his final years as a player in the league.
And the ever loyal soldier has nothing in his mind but to repay that trust and set an example to the rest of his peers.
Financial details were not divulged but a highly-reliable source revealed that Castro is now receiving the second highest monthly take in the league – believed to be better than San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa management kay boss MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) and of course boss Ricky (Vargas) and coach Chot (Reyes),” said Castro who still has a year in his contract but received an early two-year extension from the TNT management up until 2025.
“I’m thankful and blessed na yung trust nila sa akin nandun talaga at the same time di ko sasayangin ‘yung tiwala na binibigay nila sa akin para makakuha ng championship and maging example sa mga player dito,” added the veteran guard whose contract will have him with TNT until his year 17 in the league.
Reyes felt a little bit nostalgic seeing Castro who played under his tutelage in TNT and Gilas Pilipinas, sign another contract with the Tropang Giga – the same franchise that drafted him third overall in 2008.
“I drafted him so I watched him sign his first contract and I don’t know if I just saw him sign his last contract. But by 2025 that would have been his 17th year. Bagay na bagay sa number niya. So 17, 17 for a number 17,” said Reyes.
“Having players like Jayson just has made me a better coach because he’s just an absolute joy to coach, never has any problems, attitude wise, he’s always there, he’s always showing up, he always gives his best,” he said of his veteran floor general.
“We saw how good he is in the games on the court but you don’t see how he especially is really off the court, in practice and that’s where you know really separate the greats from the rest.”
For Reyes, Castro’s career that saw him become a seven-time PBA champion, five-time Best Player of the Conference awardee and five-time Mythical Team member, all with TNT, was just a proof that TNT made the right decision back then when it let go of Jay Washington for the draft rights to Castro.
“If you remember we had to give up perhaps our best individual player to get into a position to draft Jason in 2008. And we’re very very fortunate that we made the right decision so it’s just towards showing our appreciation that’s why we gave him that additional two years even if he’s still us.”
