Jayson Castro happy to play alongside a bad boy in Ivan Johnson
Guard Jayson Castro was glad he was able to help Talk ’N Text avert a monumental collapse against sister team NLEX on Friday night, but readily admitted he was even happier with the entry of import Ivan Johnson to their fold, giving the Tropang Texters an enforcer they long lacked of.
Castro came through with the game-winning 18-foot jumper at the buzzer, enabling the Tropang Texters survive the hard-fighting Road Warriors 98-96 and preserving the 6-foot-8 Johnson’s solid debut in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
A former Atlanta Hawks forward who recently took over the spot from reigning Best Import awardee Richard Howell, Johnson proved he’s as good as advertised as he sizzled with a team-high 32 points, spiked by three triples, on top of 10 rebounds, three steals, and an assist against three turnovers while getting slowed down by foul woes late in the thrilling windup.
But more than his offensive production, Johnson provides the Texters the needed “bad boy” presence, according to Castro.
“Before wala kaming bad boy. Before lahat kami pretty boy na naglalaro, walang nagre-retaliate. This time, ‘yung import namin gusto manalo,” he said of the bearded San Antonio, Texas native who is considered “temperamental” by cage experts during his several international stints, notably in South Korea.
Back in 2010, Johnson was slapped with a lifetime ban in the Korean Basketball League for directing a middle-finger gesture on a referee while playing for the Jeonju KCC Egis in their finals showdown with the Changwon LG Sakers in 2010. He also paid the league with nearly US$4,500 fine.
However, Castro feels Johnson is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Texters and he could even thrive in the pro league’s physical brand of play.
“Magaling. Alam niya 'yung larong PBA,” said “The Blur.” “Sabihan lang daw namin siya 'pag out-of-control na. ‘Yun rin naman ang sinasabi ng mga coaches sa kanya—ma-adapt ang larong PBA.”
The absence of Johnson, who figured in a skirmish with NLEX rugged center Enrico Villanueva, nearly took its toll on the Texters as the Road Warriors, led by NBA veteran Al Thornton, engineered a big fightback in the fourth canto that saw them wipe out a 29-point deficit and tie the count at 96-apeice with 8.8 seconds left.
“Nakuha nila ‘yung momentum nila going to the fourth. Then hindi kami maka-shoot. We took some bad shots and not high percentage shots. Si Thornton nakuha niya rin ‘yung rhythm niya,” said Castro of the NLEX import, who pumped in 22 of his game-high 37 points in the final half.
Good thing for the Texters, Castro rose to the occasion anew.
"Swerte lang ‘yun,” said Castro of his game-winning 18-foot jumper he uncorked against NLEX defenders Jonas Villanueva and Rudy Lingganay as time ran out. “Pang-three points talaga ‘yun (play). Pina-practice namin ni (Talk ’N Text assistant) coach Josh (Reyes) ‘yung play almost everyday. Pero 'yung ganu’ng play, from (baseline) inbound to transition shot, swerte lang.”
