After suffering an injury on Friday during Game 2 of the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Jayson Castro is anticipated to miss the remainder of the season or possibly longer.

According to TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa, Castro may have suffered a full thickness patellar tendon tear in his right knee, according to the physicians’ initial diagnosis based on the MRI.

Depending on its severity, a patellar tendon injury could take anywhere from six to twelve months to heal, according to online resources.

After an unbalanced layup with three minutes remaining in the Tropang Giga’s game against Rain or Shine on Friday, Castro sustained the injury. After that, he needed to be carried on a stretcher to the hospital.

The TNT guard may have twisted his knee while attempting a layup, according to slow-motion footage of the event.

With a 2-0 series lead over the Elasto Painters, Castro’s extended absence could seriously hurt the Tropang Giga’s chances of winning the current playoffs.

Castro, 38, led his side in scoring with 24 points in Game 1, leading TNT to victory.
He finished Game 2 with 13 points and five assists before suffering the injury.

Castro, who won his third Finals MVP award and his first in 13 years, played a significant part in the TNT’s championship run against Barangay Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup.

After fouling out in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals with plenty of time remaining, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has called for consistency in officiating.

With 5:36 left in the game, Hollis-Jefferson received his sixth foul, ending his night early. Rain or Shine successfully challenged the TNT import, and the first call was a defensive foul against Caelan Tiongson, which was later changed to an offensive foul at RHJ’s expense. This was the TNT import’s final foul.

Hollis-Jefferson stated after Game 2 that he hoped referees would be more lenient when it came to aggressiveness, suggesting that he was the victim of comparable fouls that the Elasto Painters were not.

Even when the Tiongson foul was eventually overturned, Hollis-Jefferson urged the referees to examine the incident in which he was struck in the head.

“I don’t have a problem with the physicality of the game,” said Hollis-Jefferson. “But I said this before, I’m one person getting fouled by (a) whole team. I have to be able to play physically.”

“I let them seal me, I let them hold me, it happens all game. So I just think that you should be more on the caution side when calling these fouls. And also, I got kicked in the head after the play too. They should look at that.”

Thankfully, the Tropang Giga’s defense stood firm in the finale despite being held scoreless for the final six minutes, so Hollis-Jefferson’s absence in the final five minutes of play didn’t cost them.

Rain or Shine gets a hint from RHJ.

Hollis-Jefferson stated that he has no issues with the series’ physicality, even praising Rain or Shine for its efforts.

“I think Rain or Shine is a phenomenal team. Top to bottom, I love their game. I love how physical they play. Their style, their attitude, I love it all. I appreciate them for playing like that,” the two-time PBA Best Import said.

“That’s basketball. Our defense stayed pretty good even though we didn’t score the last six and a half. Our defense stayed fairly good and that’s how we pulled this one out. But a lot of credit to Rain or Shine. It’s a good team.”