HARBOUR Centre team manager Erick Arejola, Singapore Slingers operations manager Michael Johnson and managing director Bob Turner, and Singapore-based Paul Monozca of Dr. AB Monozca Foundation flank Jason Castro in a news conference announcing Castro’s decision to play for the Slingers in the NBL in Australia. --RHOY COBILLA

JASON Castro would still love to serve the Philippines before embarking on a new career with the Singapore Slingers in the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia.

Danny Espiritu, the handler of the 21-year-old slasher from Philippine Christian University, told the BusinessMirror yesterday there’s still a strong possibility for Castro to play for the national team in the coming Jones Cup in Taiwan this July.

“Why not,” said Espiritu, when asked if his ward can suit up for the Philippine team despite signing a one-season contract with the Slingers last Friday, with no less than the club’s operations manager Michael Johnson and managing director Bob Turner personally in the country to seal the deal with Castro.

“I’m sure the officials of the team will lend Castro to the national team, because that will also be part of his training,” Espiritu added. “The players in the Jones Cup are taller and bigger, just like in the NBL, and that could be a good tournament for Jason before playing for the Slingers.”

The new NBL season unfolds this September but the Singapore Slingers have allotted two months of training and exhibition games against club teams in Japan and Korea.

And Castro, the two-time Most Valuable Player in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), might miss the early part of the preseason training of the Singapore Slingers, as he’ll most likely be included on the roster of the Harbour Centre-backed Philippine squad for the Jones Cup cagefest, slated from July 10 to18.

Junel Baculi, the man tasked to handle the RP 5, said in a previous interview that the coaching staff and management, led by Harbour team owner Mikee Romero and manager Erick Arejola, would no longer conduct a tryout and instead will select the PBL players who will comprise the team.

Baculi said he already talked with Castro about the Jones Cup tournament and the five-foot-nine guard agreed to play anew if he’ll be allowed by his new mother team in the NBL.

“As far as I know, Jason will be there [Singapore] in August,” said Baculi.

Arejola said Castro is one of the eight players they are considering to have a spot in the national team for the Jones Cup. The squad will be beefed up by four players from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

According to reports, Castro will be receiving at least Australian $40,000 or P1.6 million. Castro’s contract also has a specific clause that states he’ll be part of the team’s starting unit in each of the 30 games.

“I already broached the idea to the PBA and, hopefully, it would materialize because we all want to see how Castro will play alongside with his new teammates,” said Espiritu, adding that he is contemplating arranging an exhibition game between the Singapore Slingers and a selection of PBA players or one ball club here to see how Castro will fare with his new team.        

With the deal, Castro might altogether miss the chance to apply for the coming PBA Rookie Draft this August, as there are rules for incoming aspirants that the player might not fulfill, like attending the Rookie Camp, among others.

“We will appeal his case to the PBA if he can be allowed to join the draft,” said Espiritu.

Meanwhile, local basketball stakeholders expressed excitement over the breakthrough development.

“We have to dream, and it’s been the country’s long dream to send a Filipino player to the NBA. To achieve a dream, one has to start with a first step, a giant step. Hopefully, Jason will be the one to lead us in achieving that dream,” PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad said Saturday during an impromptu press conference arranged for Castro at Kamayan Edsa.

Romero also gushed at the prospect of seeing his own player make it to the big league abroad.

“Jason Castro being signed up by the Singapore Slingers is the biggest thing that happened in Philippine basketball. This is the Australian pro-basketball league, considered as one of the top five pro leagues in the world today. This is not a joke,” Romero said.

“Players there are as big as the NBA already. The whole country must be very proud of Jason. He can now be scouted worldwide even by the NBA. The coming of Bob Turner and the NBL in the Philippines has opened the door for Filipino players to be known worldwide. This is big,” Romero added.

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