Our national team is saying goodbye to two of its stalwart warriors.
After a gracious exit at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the hands of France and New Zealand, long-time Gilas mainstays Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo expressed their plans of retirement from the national duty.
Castro, 30, posted on his Instagram account his farewell message to the national team.
The Tropang TNT star guard has been the focal point of Gilas Pilipinas since 2013, with his elite ballhandling and scoring abilities becoming the team’s backbone on offense.
Castro also enjoyed success in the international scene, being hailed as the Asia's best point guard after being named to the Mythical Five of the 2013 and the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, tournaments where Gilas Pilipinas captured silver medals.
De Ocampo, meanwhile, also posted on his Twitter account his decision to retire.
I officially announce my goodbye of playing in Gilas Pilipinas Basketball! #PUSO— Ranidel De Ocampo (@jutaca33) July 6, 2016
The 34-year-old Tropang TNT forward began serving the national team at 2003 Southeast Asian Games in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
He’s among the pros who agreed to reinforce in the last minute the original Gilas team to the 2011 Asian joust in Wuhan, China, helping the squad to a fourth-place finish – the country’s best since 1987.
He has since then become a Gilas regular from the time of coach Rajko Toroman to Chot Reyes and Tab Baldwin.
Both Castro and de Ocampo also cited age and the new breed of talent the reason for their exit.
On behalf of the Filipino fans, thank you!
Source: Philstar Interaksyon
Image: SPIN
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