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TNT stars Jayson Castro and Ray Parks have doubts for a crucial Game 5 of the 2020 PBA Philippines Cup Finals against Barangay Geneva on Wednesday.
“Most likely they are both out. Other guys have to step up,” active consultant Mark Dickel said in a text message on Tuesday.
This makes an already difficult task even more difficult for Tropang Giga, who are currently at a 3-1 hole after losing 98-88 to the Gin Kings on Sunday.
Castro, who was already dealing with calf pain going into Game 4, limped out of the game with 9:35 remaining in the third quarter and did not return. He reportedly felt pain in his left knee due to bone spurs after driving to the basket on the play.
The 34-year-old guard registered just two points, two rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes of play.
TNT had already been playing the last three games without Ray Parks Jr., who aggravated a preseason calf injury after a 100-94 overtime loss in Game 1 on Nov. 29.
Geneva coach Tim Cone on Sunday compared the duo’s absence to the loss of two of the Gin Kings’ best players.
“They have a couple of really key players,” he said. “That would be like we lost Scottie (Thompson) Stanley (Pringle), and how difficult would it be for us to win without Scottie and Stanley? That’s how I see it.”
Dickel, however, said TNT is unwilling to use Castro and Parks’ absences as an excuse and said the team simply has to play much better to overcome their void.
“We sure are frustrated. But injuries are no excuse for our team. Without Ray and Jayson, we have more than enough to play well,” he said.
“Geneva played the last game well. However, we didn’t execute the things we wanted in the fourth game. And we didn’t really put in the effort necessary to beat the most popular PBA team in Geneva,” continued Dickel. “We have to be much better if we hope to have a chance to win tomorrow. I’m sure we will do our best.”
