Castro to KaTropa: Gather Act Together!

Jayson Castro Holding Basketball
(Photo by the PBA Media Bureau)



The Blur calls for more consistency after TNT suffers back-to-back defeats

Over the past few years, the Talk N Text KaTropa have been known as a championship-contending team with Jayson Castro leading the way alongside rising star, Troy Rosario. However, even with a young coach in Nash Racela who has been spending most of his time wondering why his team has struggled during the past conferences that he's been with the team, the KaTropa went from a Finals-bound to a semifinalist and now, an eighth-seeded team if they don't improve in their final games during the elimination round of the PBA Philippine Cup.

Did you just read an "eighth-seeded team"?

Yes, folks. Your eyes are just fine and we have the standings as an evidence to that. After losing anew to the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings on a 93-78 decision, the KaTropa have absorbed their second consecutive loss which puts them in the 8th spot with a 4-5 record. Had the playoffs started today, this would mean that TNT would need to beat the San Miguel Beermen in two consecutive games. The good news is they still have two more games to play, two more chances to improve their standings.

Given how the KaTropa have struggled to play with consistency throughout the season even with a healthy Troy Rosario on board, this has made Jayson Castro call out on his teammates for more consistency beginning with their game tomorrow against the GlobalPort Batang Pier. Why?

If you are to look at the current standings, the Batang Pier have a 3-4 record followed by the Blackwater Elite with 3-5 and, the Meralco Bolts whom TNT have yet to face yet, with 2-6. All three teams behind the KaTropa have a fighting chance of snatching that 8th spot.

Given how stacked the standings is right now, Jayson Castro also said that it's very important for his team to get an important win tomorrow against Batang Pier, adding that it's almost like a do-or-die game for TNT.


Conclusion

Bottomline here is very much simple: With or without Troy Rosario, the TNT KaTropa have to make sure that they win BOTH of their last 2 games if they want to avoid facing the Beermen in the quarterfinals. And not just win. They have to start acting like a contending team if they want their opponents to treat them like one because as it is right now, Talk N Text is not yet in their championship form even if Jayson Castro goes supernova. 

Comments