Castro doesn't mind TNT losing KO game to Rain or Shine: 'It was so good'

MANILA, Philippines — The TNT-Rain or Shine do-or-die clash was so good that it actually didn’t bother Jayson Castro if he lost the game.

“Sobrang ganda nung game,” he shared after grinding out a 118-114 win over the Painters on Friday night. “Para sa akin, kahit na matalo ka sa game na ‘yun OK pa rin.”

“Kasi, ‘yung both teams, makikita mo na ayaw magpatalo talaga eh,” he shared with a smile.

READ: TNT disposes Rain or Shine

The game, which featured 16 deadlocks, never had a clear winner up until the final 10 seconds. KaTropa, who never won over the Elasto Painters this conference, had all of their offensive tactics matched.

It was such a cardiac affair that the final six minutes saw four ties and five lead changes.

Castro, who finished the game with a double-double (25 points and 12 assists), said that the game actually boiled down on a sequence — to which they capitalized.

“May mga konting lapses lang sila during end-game,” he noted. “Doon lang kami nakakita ng window.”

J’Nathan Bullock and Beau Belga of the Painters figured in a miscommunication with three ticks left in the game that would’ve put Rain or Shine in front or sent the game to another tie.

Gabe Norwood and Roger Pogoy scrambled to secure the leather, but it was taken away by Ryan Reyes who was fouled. The latter then put the icing on the cake.

“Give credit din talaga sa Rain or Shine,” Castro said. “'Yung game plan talaga nila against samin ay sobrang ganda, at saka 'yung matchup nila samin.”

KaTropa move to the semifinals where a Greg Slaughter- and Justin Brownlee-powered Barangay Ginebra are waiting for them. The series begins Monday at the Big Dome.