MANILA -- Veteran guard Jayson Castro may be out for the season after suffering a serious injury, but "The Blur" made sure that he left on a high note.
Castro helped the TNT Tropang Giga pick up two wins against Rain or Shine in their semifinal series in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner's Cup before sustaining a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee in Game 2.
The injury ruled him out for the rest of the Tropang GIGA's campaign.
TNT guard Jayson Castro in action against Rain or Shine in the semifinals of the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner's Cup, February 28, 2025 at the PhilSports Arena. PBA Images
Before the untimely incident, Castro had averaged 18.5 points on 65 percent shooting from the field, while also contributing 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals on his way to being named as the Pilipinas Live-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period February 26 to March 2.
READ: Jayson Castro out for rest of season after suffering patellar tendon injury
TNT claimed the first two games of the series in this stretch with score lines of 88-84 and 93-91, but was defeated last Sunday, 103-98, in the Tropang Giga's first match-up without Castro.
Even Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao recognizes how important Castro is to TNT.
"Stabilizer nila si Jayson. When he is playing, his minutes are also being managed, it's around 20-plus minutes. Pero quality 'yung nilalaro niyang mga minutes," said the veteran coach.
Castro dropped 24 points, two rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 22 minutes of play in Game 1. Though he suffered the injury late in the match, the three-time PBA Finals MVP still produced 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists in Game 2 in 22 minutes as well.
"It's really the time when he's on court that he is able to make his teammates around him better," said Guiao.
Castro edged the likes of Adrian Nocum of Rain or Shine and Jamie Malonzo of Barangay Ginebra in the weekly awards given by the men and women covering the PBA beat from different broadsheets, tabloids, and online platforms.