Players of the Week: Jason Castro, Arwind Santos

PICKING up the cudgels for sidelined teammates has netted Talk N Text’s Jason
Castro and Petron Blaze’s Arwind Santos some good results.
The two play different positions but similarly shone brightest for their hobbled
teams in the PBA Governors Cup, earning for them the Accel-PBA Press Corps’
Co-Players of the Week honors for the period June 13 to 19.
Castro made the Tropang Texters hardly miss the services of ace playmaker Jimmy
Alapag as he came off the bench twice to average 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and
5.5 assists in leading them to a 2-0 start in the tournament they aim to top to
realize a rare Grand Slam.
“With Jimmy out we were looking at him to provide leadership and he has been
delivering,” said Talk N Text coach Chot Reyes of his combo guard.
 Petron was worse off with more key players absent. But Santos rose to the
occasion by norming 14.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 1.0 steals in
helping the Boosters notch back-to-back wins after opening up their campaign on
a sour note.
“Isa siya talaga sa pinaka inaasahan ng team at I’m glad he’s been rising up to
the challenge,” said Petron coach Ato Agustin of the 6-foot-4 shooting forward
transplanted to the 4 slot by necessity.
Alapag suffered a sprain just four minutes into the second half and was
sidelined from thereon in their opening game against Alaska last Wednesday.
There was really no cause for immediate concern as Castro took over and scored
seven of his 11 points in the fourth period, ensuring the Texters complete their
101-75 rout.
The 5-10 spitfire was more fiery their next time out as he churned out 22
points, eight rebounds, as many assists and also had a steal and a block in a
120-108 win over erstwhile unbeaten Rain or Shine that put the Texters alongside
idle Meralco for the lead.
Injuries to his teammates also admittedly spurred Santos as he readily picked up
the cudgels for sidelined fellow frontliners Jay Washington (left foot), Danny
Ildefonso (knee) and Nonoy Baclao (knee), as well as point guard Denok Miranda
(foot).
With Washington suffering his injury just seven minutes into the game against
Air21 last Friday, Santos took it upon himself to work doubly harder in tending
the boards. Result was a career-high 21 rebounds, going well with his 15 points
and five blocks in Petron’s breakthrough 115-106 win.
He followed that up with 13 points, six rebounds, two steals, as many blocks and
an assist in the Boosters’ follow-up 100-89 victory over sister team Barangay
Ginebra last Sunday.PR