MANILA – TNT KaTropa veteran Jayson Castro begged off from Gilas Pilipinas in the 2019 FIBA World Cup slated later this year in China due to what he called as “personal priorities.”
Gilas head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said the many-time national team guard has sought for understanding for his situation because he has issues that are personal in nature.
“I told him, ‘Okay, I know you have served the country for a long time.’ And if it is because of his family, I don’t think anybody can blame him,” Guiao told the media on Monday night.
Guiao added that he is still hopeful that the 32-year-old Pampanga native could resolve whatever issue is bothering him and suit up for the national squad in the World Cup.
“I would want to have him on the team but the final say is with Jayson. If he says, ‘I changed my mind, I want to play again,’ I can easily give him a slot. But if he says, ‘I want to rest,’ then we have to look for somebody,” Guiao said.
Castro was a member of the Philippine team that reached the World Cup in 2014. He was also instrumental in the national squad’s second straight FIBA World Cup appearance.
Castro returned from a three-game suspension from FIBA and helped Gilas string wins against Qatar and Kazakhstan in the Asian Qualifiers that ultimately punched their ticket to the quadrennial meet./PN
