Jason Castro (basketball player)

Jason Castro (born June 30, 1986 in Pampanga) is a Filipino basketball player. He played for the Philippine Christian University (PCU) Dolphins in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines), Philippine Basketball League (PBL) teams Hapee-PCU Teeth Protectors and Harbour Centre Batang Pier. He was suppossed to be the first Filipino to play in Australia's National Basketball League for the Singapore Slingers, but the team withdrew from the league before the start of the season.

Amateur career

PCU Dolphins

Castro first played for the PCU Dolphins in the NCAA at the 2003 season as a 5'11" shooting guard. The Dolphins were not able to clinch a Final Four berth, finishing with a 5-9 record.

Things changed on the 2004 season in which PCU was able to make a turnaround with Castro, Gabby Espinas and Robert Sanz at the helm, denying Letran a back-to-back championship run. Holding the twice to beat advantage, the Dolphins needed an extra game that went into overtime to enter the finals. In the championship series against the University of Perpetual Help, the Dolphins swept the best-of-3 finals series to win their first NCAA championship. Castro played second fiddle to both Espinas who won the League MVP award and Sanz, who won the Finals MVP award.

In the 2006 season, the Dolphins into another Final Four appearance, and they made short work of Mapua on their way to the Finals were they met Letran once again. The Dolphins won Game 1 behind Castro's game-high 20 points. The Dolphins were beaten by Letran in the next two games as Castro got cold.

In 2007, Castro gave out an all-NCAA team performance as he was named as one of the Mythical 5 members; he and Espinas led PCU to a third consecutive Finals appearance this time against San Beda College. Despite Castro scoring a team-high 16 points, the Dolphins were blown out by the Red Lions on Game 1. Castro's teammates stepped up on Game 2 to force a deciding game. On the third game, with PCU trailing by a point in the dying seconds, Castro passed off the game-winning shot to Beau Belga who missed his jumper to lose the championship for PCU. The Dolphins would be suspended the following year after irregularities on their high school team, thus ending Castro's collegiate career.

Hapee-PCU Teeth Sparklers

After PCU's championship, Lamoiyan Corporation sponsored the core of that team to participate in the PBL as the Hapee-PCU Teeth Sparklers. The Sparklers entered the Finals against the Harbour Centre Batang Pier and were defeated; Hapee made several more playoff runs but were beaten either by Harbour Centre or by Toyota-Otis (ironically mostly composed of Letran players).

Harbourt Centre Batang Pier

After PCU was suspended, Castro transferred to Harbour Centre and won 2 championships with them. After 2 conferences of sterling performances, Castro was named as the PBL 2007 most valuable player. [ [http://www.philippinebasketballleague.org/news/news003.php#12 Philippine Basketball League - Current News ] ] In the next season, Castro and the Batang Pier met Hapee, this time led by Filipino-American Gabe Norwood in both of the season's finals and beat them. Castro was adjudged as the MVP anew, beating Norwood.

Professional career

Castro signed with the Singapore Slingers during a televised ceremony in May 2008, and was supposed to be become the first Filipino player in the National Basketball League, Australia's top-level professional basketball competition. [cite web|title = Slingers sign Castro | url = http://nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=74860 | date = 3 May 2008 | publisher = National Basketball League (Australia) ] [cite web|title = PBL's Jason Castro first Pinoy to play in Aussie pro basketball league | publisher = ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation | author = TJ Manotoc | date = May 4 2008 | url = http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=116965 |quote = For the very first time, a Filipino will play in the Australian professional basketball league, the NBL or National Basketball League.... And this player is none other than former National Collegiate Athletic Association and Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Most Valuable Player Jason Castro.] However about a month before the start of the season the Slingers withdrew permanently from the NBL citing excessive transport costs to Australia.

As a result, Castro ended his contract with the Slingers since it stipulated that he'll play with the Slingers at the NBL. At the 2008 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Draft, Castro was drafted third overall by the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals and will play for the club at the upcoming 2008-09 PBA season once his commitments with the Slingers are over. [cite web|title = JASON CASTRO HOME SOON TO JOIN PHONE PALS | url = http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2263/1/ | date = 6 September 2008 | publisher = Philippine Basketball Association ]

Honors

*2005 NCAA player of the week
*2006 NCAA mythical 5 selection
*2006-07 PBL mythical 5 selection
*2006-07 PBL most valuable player
*2007-08 PBL player of the week
*2007-08 PBL mythical 5 selection
*2007-08 PBL most valuable player

References