Jayson Castro: Clear as the Blur

By Joyce Reyes-Aguilla |

Who would not cheer for a six-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) titlist, two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) and three-time Best PBA Player of the Conference awardee?

Even in Asia, where Jayson Castro battles alongside his Gilas brethren against more highly fancied powerhouse teams, his game has earned awe and respect. He has been named twice to the International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) All-Star Selection and included in the Mythical Five of the 2015 William Jones Cup.

When the Philippines waged a campaign in the FIBA Asian Championship last October, Jayson proved why he is widely regarded as the best point guard in the region. His well-deserved selection into the Mythical Five was behind a 16.7-point average that fueled Gilas to a silver-medal finish. Though it was a definite heartbreak for a nation whose love affair with basketball will never end, the sight of our men fighting with all their hearts, physically tired in an arena that cheered against their will, is doubtless forever cemented in the nation’s memory.

“I just wish we came home with the gold medal instead of my Mythical Five selection,” Jayson tells PeopleAsia in the vernacular. “That was our main goal, to win that gold.” When the team flew back home, the star point guard was welcomed with cheers. Fans were chanting “Castro for senator!” It’s not easy to be a hero in the Philippines — and even harder to be a basketball hero.

After a delayed flight home that forced the team to spend the night at the airport, they arrived to a sea of gratitude and love. And Jayson, their hero, was all smiles wearing a shirt that said “Philippine Basketball Never Stops.” “We gave it our best. We’ll make up for it next year,” he promises.

These days, the Talk N’ Text guard is busy training with the national team for the Olympic qualifiers in Rio where it hopes to land one of the wildcard spots for the right to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Jayson reports that the team is working on getting better in different areas, including its outside shooting. “It’s hard to compete in international games when you don’t have shooters,” he explains. “That’s one of the main goals of Coach Tab (Baldwin). That was one of our weaknesses at FIBA Asia. Teams like China just waited for us under the paint, and we could not make outside shots.”

Basketball every day

Growing up, there was plenty of basketball to be played in his hometown of Guagua, Pampanga. “The sport was very popular in our neighborhood,” Jayson, who is fluent in Kapampangan, recalls. “When they invited me to play, I wasn’t really interested at first. But when I started learning, I wanted to play every day!”

It was time well spent for the eldest of four children who grew up away from his mother and siblings (who were in the US). The multi-awarded player was raised by his maternal grandparents and aunts. After his parents divorced, Jayson chose to use his mother’s surname. In international competitions, though, he uses William.

After high school, he went to Manila upon an invitation to play for the Philippine Christian University (PCU). It was a whole new ballgame in the city, Jayson avers.

“It was hard for a 16-year-old,” he admits. “I had teammates who were much older, stronger than me. But after my first year, I was able to adjust to the game’s physicality and intensity. Little by little, I was taught defensive skills and the fundamentals of being a guard.”

In 2004, the PCU Dolphins delivered the school’s first-ever National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship, an achievement that Jayson says made history for the team and the university as well.

As a student-athlete, he limited his semester load to only 12 units to ensure that he would be able to handle his academic requirements. On off seasons, the team practice sessions were no less strenuous. The players would start with a jog at five in the morning, and then three more hours of training in the afternoon. When NCAA season rolled around, they would only practice once a day, but for much longer. He says it was physically taxing, and he would feel too tired to attend his classes at times.

But Jayson’s earnest drive to study will pay off soon. He is set to earn a Business Management degree by March next year. “The Blur” (an apt monicker for the speedy guard) continued to study even after he was drafted in the PBA, only stopping for some time to prove his worth as the third overall draft pick of his batch.

After collegiate basketball, the three-time NCAA Mythical Five awardee joined the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) where he says he “encountered more mature players.” Jayson reveals, “At first, it was really intimidating to go against players you respect. But I told myself that I needed to compete if I wanted to realize my dream to make it to the PBA.”

Jayson almost became the first Filipino to play for Australia’s National Basketball League in 2008. But after four months of training abroad, the Singapore Slingers (which drafted him) withdrew from the league. It was a big disappointment for the star, who still dreams of playing basketball in international leagues up to now. Still, the soft- spoken cager says those developments led to good — namely, the PBA and the Talk N’ Text team.

It was Jayson’s dream team of sorts as one of his idols, star point guard Jimmy Alapag, ran the offense. As a student of the sport, he also knew that being in Talk N’ Text would expose him to the system of Coach Chot Reyes to have a lot of dribble-drives. “The system honed my ability to create plays for my teammates,” he admits.

As a rookie, Jayson was in awe upon seeing PBA players like Jimmy Alapag, Danny Ildefonso, Johnny Abarrientos and Olsen Racela. During these early years, he patterned his game after point guard Willie Miller, whom he admired for his quickness and athleticism.

He considers it a great privilege to be mentored by the equally accomplished Jimmy Alapag. “I learned a lot from Jimmy about leadership and motivating the team. His work ethic is admirable. He would always be first to arrive at the gym for practice. Jimmy taught me how to really play basketball in terms of involving my teammates and creating plays for them.”

Together, the backcourt duo ended Talk N’ Text’s six-year championship drought by winning the 2010-2011 Philippine Cup. It was the first of many trophies they earned together. He and Jimmy were named co-MVPs in different conferences.

His hard work was not left unnoticed by his mentor. “This is your team after two years,” Jimmy once told Jayson years before he retired from the league. After being with Talk N’ Text’s team management, Jimmy came out of retirement this year to join the Meralco Bolts.

“It was really awkward,” the cager remembers the first time they were on court as opponents. “I told him I wasn’t used to seeing him in a different uniform.” Talk N’ Text prevailed in the first faceoff between the former teammates. After the game, Jimmy unselfishly still reminded Jayson of his role as the team’s leader.

Olympic dreams

In 2014, Jayson was included in the list of the 40 Greatest Players in PBA History, along with league greats Benjie Paras, Alvin Patrimonio and Robert Jaworski.

“I’m very blessed to be included but at the same time, I feel pressured,” confesses the PBA 5,000-point-club member. “I appreciate that they saw my contributions already. But I still want to do many things. I always ask myself what’s next.”

This includes that Olympic dream that he believes can be achieved through hard work. “It’s hardest to play for the national team, but there is really pride in it,” says the Derek Rose and Chauncey Billups fan. “You really play for our flag and our country. We don’t mind how hard a task it is. There is pressure because everyone in the Philippines is watching you, but I am really happy to be a part of it because we are able to give joy.”

Jayson says he does not go on social media during tournaments to avoid distractions. Still, his encounters with fans have made him appreciate the blessings he has received. “There was a guy who went out of his way to see me after a kidney transplant. I was really touched that I am able to make people happy.

“Kids tell me they want to be a ‘Jayson Castro’ but I always remind them that they have to study very hard first. My only goal before was to get a scholarship and finish school. After that, someone just told me to improve my skills because I may have a chance in the PBA.”

Even for his firstborn (David Elli), he says he wants to instill the value of education before basketball. “A lot of people have asked me why I still want to study even when I’m already earning in the PBA,” he declares. “But I want to be successful even after my basketball career. Even after I graduate, I still plan to study.”

While they are a blessing, Jayson Castro maintains that trophies and awards do not define him. Humble and reserved even after everything he has achieved, he is content to fly under the radar — something that observers have latched on. Many say Jayson is under-appreciated; an overachiever who shuns the limelight.

“Maybe,” he replies with a smile. “But it’s really not a big deal to me. I’m really not the type who seeks attention. As long as I’m doing my job, I’ll give my best, whatever happens. If they want to give me an award or not, it’s okay. For me, it’s all about the team winning. I’m really a team player. Whether they appreciate me or not, it’s okay with me.”

Hard not to cheer for that.

Photography by MAU AGUASIN / Art direction by RAMON JOSEPH RUIZ

Styling by ROBin ORTEGA / Grooming by FLOE TAPAYAN

Shot on Location at the MARCO POLO SUITE of MARCO POLO ORTIGAS, MANILA

Special Thanks to JUDITH LOS BAñOS