TNT kicks off its PBA Commissioner’s Cup title defense with a timely boost, welcoming back veteran leaders Jayson Castro and Justin Chua as the Tropang 5G face Rain or Shine Friday night in the main game of a weekend doubleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The return of the two seasoned campaigners adds depth, experience, and familiarity to a TNT side looking to begin its bid for another crown on solid footing. Castro, 39, is back in the active roster after being listed before the start of the mid-season conference, while Chua has officially rejoined the franchise after signing for the entire tournament earlier this week.
Chua was reactivated in place of former MVP Kelly Williams, who has been moved to UFAWR2S status, giving TNT another veteran presence in the paint as it prepares for another demanding title run.
Both Castro and Chua already got a feel for game action after suiting up in TNT’s lone tune-up match for the conference against Meralco, giving the defending champions an early glimpse of what their returning veterans can bring.
For Castro, the comeback carries extra weight. The longtime TNT star is finally back on the floor after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon during the semifinals of last season’s Commissioner’s Cup against the same Rain or Shine squad. It was a crushing setback for one of the franchise’s most enduring pillars, especially coming just one conference after he helped steer TNT to the Governors’ Cup championship and claimed Finals MVP honors.
Now, Castro gets a chance to begin a new chapter, returning to lead the Tropang 5G once more as they open their title defense.
Chua, 36, also rejoins TNT with unfinished business and familiar ties. This will be his third stint with the franchise after previous runs in 2017 and 2023. Fresh off helping Gilas Pilipinas win the gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, the former Ateneo standout earned another shot with the Tropang 5G after joining the team’s training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna before the conference.
An unrestricted free agent after his last stint with Blackwater, Chua is no stranger to TNT’s winning culture. He was part of the team that captured the 2023 Governors’ Cup title over Barangay Ginebra during Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s debut as TNT import.
That championship, however, came with heartbreak. Chua suffered an ACL injury in Game 1 of the finals and had to watch the rest of the series from the bench on crutches as TNT completed its title run.
This time, both Castro and Chua return healthy and ready, hoping to help TNT open its campaign with the same grit and championship edge that carried the franchise to the top.