Golden Boy’s burden

He was dubbed "Golden Boy" not because he had some mystical powers, but because Noy Castillo, in looks and in deed, showed awesome promise. In an age where basketball was becoming a big man’s bump and grind, he harked back to an age where finesse and outside shooting were premiums.

When names were being bandied about as candidates for the Philippine men’s basketball team to the Asian Games, one of the first things head coach Ron Jacobs said was "I didn’t see a Caidic." He was referring, of course, to the uncanny long-range shooting of the left-handed stalwart of his Philippine teams of the 1980’s. Allan is now, of course, coach of Barangay Ginebra on leave to assist Jong Uichico in molding the national team.

When the final list of fifteen players to this significant endeavor was announced, many were surprised to find Noy Castillo’s name on it. After all, he had been operated on in December, and had not even set foot on the basketball court to scrimmage with the RP team.

"I didn’t really pay attention to any of it," he began. "It wasn’t my decision to make. They’ll have to ask coach Jong why he thinks I deserve to be on the team."

Castillo’s injury had actually been bothering him for the entire 2001 season, until he finally had surgery in the United States before the end of the year.

"What I had, they called Shaq toe," Castillo said in an interview for The Basketball Show. "Because that’s the same injury that’s been bothering the Los Angeles Laker‘s Shaquille O’Neal. I had two operations. I had reconstructive surgery on my right big toe. Then they cut the fascia, the band running along the underside of the foot. For each operation I was out for about an hour and a half."

Castillo woke up with a cast running up to his knee, and had to endure immobilization for two weeks, before he could even start therapy.

"The first thing they had to do was get my mobility back," he continues. "I had totally lost all muscle tone in my leg from the lack of movement."

After weeks of therapy, the Purefoods guard was still hoping he would be given a chance to wear the national colors. But, at that point, he had his doubts.

"Realistically, I didn’t know that they would still give me chance and say ‘We’re giving you a shot,’ or whether they would say ‘We’ll, you’re injured and we’re not taking you.’"

The PBA All-Star had already been back for almost a month, visiting the RP team practices at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center, although he couldn’t play. Sporting a buzz cut and looking trim and in shape, he had to content himself with working in the weight room and shooting on his own. It was with a lot of anxiety that he waited for the announcement of the team’s final composition.

"I had a lot of nervous energy that week. When I heard, a shot of adrenalin went through me. I was so happy, so proud, so honored to be part of the national team. I called my Dad right away and told him."

Now the burden of proof is on Noy Castillo to substantiate Uichico’s faith in him. In two weeks, he’ll hit the court for his full practice with his teammates, ending the ordeal of waiting he has had to surmount for almost half a year.

"I’d like to thank all the fans who wrote me and prayed for me," he said. "I’d like them to know that it meant a lot to me and made me determined to play better. All I can promise is that I’ll work very hard to do what I can for the team."