Castro leaving S'pore Slingers to play for Pals

Jason Castro, the flamboyant guard out of PCU who had starred for Harbour Centre in the PBL, will severe his ties with the Singapore Slingers to play for Talk n Text in the PBA.

Castro has made up his mind to leave the Slingers at the end of the ongoing Malaysian invitational tourney in Kuala Lumpur, according to the player’s agent/adviser Danny Espiritu.

“Castro signed up to play with the Slingers in the NBL (National Basketball League in Australia). Since the Slingers have left the NBL, their contract is no longer binding,” said Espiritu. “The Slingers want an addendum in their contract to keep Jason, but Jason has decided to go home after the Malaysian invitational.”

Apparently, four Australian players had left the Slingers after the team topped the recent Sultan Cup in Brunei where Castro emerged as the Most Valuable Player.

After the Malaysian invitational, the Slingers are set to return to their home base in Singapore playing host to the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants and Air21 Express among other foreign guest teams in their own invitational tourney.

“Jason wants out after Malaysia so he can start practicing with Talk n Text,” said Espiritu.

Castro was the No. 3 pick in the recent PBA Rookie Draft. He’s one of four draftees chosen by the Pals aside from Jarred Dillinger, Rob Reyes and Pong Escobal.

Apparently, Espiritu has closed a deal with Talk n Text for Castro while the player was abroad. The player is also likely to get P8.7 million package in three years, the same deal Dillinger and Reyes stands to receive.

Meanwhile, Air21 has re-signed veteran players Homer Se and Niño Canaleta while Alaska has acquired 6-foot-7 center-forward Ervin Sotto.

The Air21 team, which is returning in the coming PBA season with the core of its old lineup intact, is to hold simultaneous clinics at the Olivarez Gym and Xavier Sports Center on Sept. 13 and 27.