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TANAUAN CITY—Jason
Castro left a historic mark in the Philippine
Basketball League (PBL) before he brings his act to the
Singapore Slingers in the Australia-based National
Basketball League (NBL).
The
Harbour Centre fiery guard edged Hapee Toothpaste’s Gabe
Norwood for the Most Valuable Players (MVP) plum in a
tight race, making him the most successful amateur cager
since Eric Menk in 10 years.
It was
the third-straight MVP award for the 21-year old Castro,
who undoubtedly is the pillar of Batang Pier’s dominance
in the PBL.
“Nagpapasalamat
ako sa lahat ng tumulong sa akin para manalo ulit lalo
na sa mga teammates ko, kina Sir Mikee
[Romero] at manager Erick [Arejola],” said Castro, who
received the award before Game Three of the PBL
Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup finals at the President Jose
P. Laure gymnasium here.
The
former Philippine Christian University standout finished
only second in the statistical points category behind
the six-foot-five Norwood, this season’s Fantastic
Freshman awardee and member of the First Mythical Team.
“Jason
deserves his third MVP trophy because he really worked
hard for it. He has been phenomenal not only here but
also overseas. He actually raised the bar for guards for
his quickness, leaping ability and craftsmanship,”
Romero, the amiable Harbour Centre owner who arrived
Sunday from a business trip in the United States, said.
“We will
surely miss him not only because he’s a good and an
exciting player, but also because he’s a good person.
He’s very humble, that’s why we like him very much,”
Romero added.
Castro
received 856 points from statistics to Norwood’s 877.1.
But the five-foot-seven slasher got 144.2 from media and
players’ votes for a total of 1000.2 points.
The
former George Mason University standout had only 105.3
points from players and media votes for a total of
982.41 to finish second in the MVP derby, and was denied
the chance to match Menk’s feat to become an MVP and
Rookie of the Year in the same season (1997).
Castro
now joins Menk as the only player in league history to
win three straight MVP honors. Menk achieved his in 1998
in leading Tanduay to three straight crowns.
Actually, Castro has already set a mark by being in the
All-PBL First Team for five straight times, a record
that will now be difficult to break because the league
now gives the award out on an annual basis.
The
high-leaping Castro won his first MVP title after
leading Harbour Centre to a 3-0 sweep of Hapee two years
ago, and then during the 2007 Unity Cup where the Batang
Pier also scored a 3-0 sweep over Cebuana Lhuillier.
Hapee
center Larry Rodriguez finished third in the MVP race
with a total of 747.41 points, while teammate Mark
Borboran was fourth with 745.47. Harbour Centre Chad
Alonzo was fifth with 734.25. |
