After LA, it's Jayson Castro turn to get relegated as free agent
TNT's Jayson Castro, whose basketball career has been defined by his accomplishments as a Tropang 5G for nearly two decades, has been relegated by his team to the Unrestricted Free Agent list.
But those who may be eyeing to sign him better not try. The TNT star is park there not because Tropang 5G no longer has any use for him.
Rather it's just an arrangement as Castro, whose heroics have helped TNT win 10 PBA championships, is recuperating from a knee surgery and will likely be back in the lineup once he gets well.
That probably will take a while, though, because of the nature of his injury which has been diagnosed as a ruptured patellar tendon. That kind of injury will force him to miss the remainder of the season and probably one or two of next year's conferences.
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He will, however, not miss his salary as this has been guaranteed by TNT management, an arrangement that is similar to the one given to LA Tenorio, Barangay Ginebra's veteran guard, who is not injured but took a lengthy leave of absence after taking the coaching job of the Gilas Pilipinas youth team in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers.
Both had to be unrestricted free agents so their teams can activate other players to take their places as the PBA is starting to heat up with teams jockeying for playoff spots.
TNT is trying harder to cope with the situation because another player, guard Rey Nambatac, is also in the injured/reserved list, and will be out for four to six weeks after suffering a groin injury in TNT’s 101-84 win over Meralco.
Replacing Nambatac in the active roster is defensive guard Ping Exciminiano, who is eligible to play in TNT’s game against Rain or Shine on Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Taking Tenorio's place is young wingman Jayson David.
Castro, 38, a three-time Finals MVP for TNT, the only team he has been with since signing in 2008 as its third overall pick, is surely not going away. He had just signed an extension with the team until 2027.
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