Jayson Castro set to miss rest of PBA season with patellar tendon injury

Jayson Castro is set to miss at least 10 months of action as he undergoes knee surgery. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Jayson Castro could sit out the rest of the PBA season after he was believed to have suffered a patellar tendon injury.

According to TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa on Saturday, MRI results revealed that the cat-quick point guard may have torn the said tendon in his right knee after a bad fall following a layup attempt with 3:07 left in Game 2 of the Commissioner's Cup semifinals against Rain Or Shine.

Lastimosa added that Castro will quickly undergo surgery and is expected to miss around 10-12 months of action, which means he might also miss a sizable chunk of the league's 50th season starting on Oct. 5.

Castro was on track on having a sensational semifinal series, averaging 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game before getting hurt.

He was also on his way of joining the elite 10,000 Points Club this season with a chance that he could make it as early as this conference if the Tropang Giga would eventually make the finals.

However, with the lengthy layoff, the said career milestone would have to wait for the 38-year-old playmaker.

Castro's absence would be a huge blow for TNT ahead of Game 3 against ROS on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and beyond that.

Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno