After Iran won their semifinal match against Chinese Taipei in the FIBA Asia Championship to clinch the first of three tickets to the 2014 Basketball World Cup in Spain, coach Mehmed Becirovic replied to questions from reporters by saying his player, Mahdi Kamrani, was the best point guard in the region.
But for Chot Reyes, the coach of the Philippine national men’s basketball team, the best point guard in Asia was the one who made it to the All-Star Five of the tournament, his own backcourt star Jayson Castro.
Castro edged out Kamrani for All-Star honors, joining Korea’s Kim Mingoo, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chih-Chieh and Kamrani’s Iranian teammates Oshin Sahakian and Hamed Haddadi, who was named the tournament’s MVP.
“Mahdi Kamrani, coach Becirovic said he was the best in Asia, because he’s never faced Jayson Castro,” said Reyes, who introduced Castro as the best point guard in the region at the Gilas Pilipinas victory party at the Genting Club in Resorts World Manila.
“And up to now, he’s never faced Jayson Castro yet. ‘Cause he hasn’t had the chance to catch him. All Mahdi Kamrani saw was Jayson’s behind,” Reyes joked.
Gilas may have lost the final as Iran rode on the shoulders of former NBA player Haddadi in the title game, but Castro was a bright spot for the Philippines, scoring 18 points against Kamrani and the feared Iran frontline.
“That’s the reason he’s there. And the one person that I really needed to be on this team for the offense to work was Jayson Castro. He brings a completely different dynamic into the game,” said Reyes.
“Obviously now, the other Asian countries know him and they’re going to prepare for him. But Jayson is what, 25 years old, he’s still got a lot to improve on. So the next time they play, it’s going to be a better Jayson Castro.”
Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/jayson-castro-not-irans-mahdi-kamrani-is-truly-best-pg-in-asia-says-gilas-coach-chot-reyes
No comments:
Post a Comment