Jayson Castro calls for Philippine basketball unity

After Gilas Pilipinas absorbed a heartbreaking loss against China in the finals of the FIBA Asia Championship, Jayson Castro called for unity among the country's basketball circuit in supporting the national team.

 

Back when the training pool was being formed, a couple of players begged off while PBA ball club Rain or Shine declared it would only lend one player to the national cause.

 

With the team falling short of bringing home the gold medal at the conclusion of their campaign, Castro took the mantle of speaking up for Gilas.

 

"Next time sana magkaisa tayo kasi 'yung mga shooter na kailangan natin sa team, sana di ba?" said the top point guard, who was named in the Mythical Five for the second time. "Kasi 'yung outside shot talagang hindi nag-click ngayon e."

 

Against the China, the Philippines only shot 6-of-24 from deep for a measly 25 percent shooting clip, lower than Gilas' 35 percent for the whole tournament.

 

 

 

Team captain Dondon Hontiveros was the only volume shooter in the Gilas squad, while Castro was the best outside gunner with a 21-of-45 clip in nine games for 46.7 percent.

 

The Blur ranked ninth in three-point shooting, while the Cebuano Hotshot was at 12th place with a 42.2 percent clip. Rookie Terrence Romeo came up 19th, shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc.

 

The team missed the services of Barangay Ginebra's LA Tenorio, who was named to the 16-man pool but begged off due to poor form and fatigue.

 

Rain or Shine's Paul Lee and and San Miguel Beer's Marcio Lassiter are also snipers whose names were included in the 24-man roster submitted to FIBA, but the two guards did not see action for Gilas Pilipinas.

 

"Next FIBA Asia, let's make sure na lahat tayo magkaisa para talunin 'tong mga ganitong team like China," Castro said.

 

Overall, the Philippines is tied with Jordan for sixth place in three-point shooting, behind East Asian powerhouses Korea, China, and Chinese Taipei and Middle Eastern forces Lebanon and Palestine. —JST, GMA News