TNT will have to push through with its quest to win the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title without its unquestioned leader Jayson Castro after a serious knee injury ruled him out for the rest of the season.

“It’s very concerning, not only for this series but for Jayson’s well-being long term,” coach Chot Reyes said as the Tropang Giga went for a commanding 3-0 lead over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters minus Castro in Sunday’s 5 p.m. opener at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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Team manager Jojo Lastimosa confirmed that Castro was diagnosed with a full-thickness patellar tendon tear in his right knee which he incurred with three minutes left in the fourth quarter of TNT’s 93-91 escape act two nights ago as he was attempting to go for a layup.

Injuries are not a rarity at this point of Castro’s career, and Reyes and the Tropang Giga coaching career have opted to put the former Gilas Pilipinas star on load management to make sure he’ll be in his best form during the games that matter.

But when Castro had to be taken to an ambulance using a stretcher, the seriousness of his injury was realized.

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“We all know that if it’s only a mild knock, Jayson will not take himself out of the game,” Reyes said. “But it appeared to me that it was not a good landing.”

Dominant Ginebra

How TNT approaches its game without Castro is going to be one of the intriguing parts of the contest after getting two wins out of two to open the best-of-seven series with a combined winning margin of six points.

The Tropang Giga managed to escape Game 2 with a 93-91 win at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, not only sans Castro, but also import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who fouled out with 5:36 left in the fourth quarter with TNT holding a 93-82 lead.

Hollis-Jefferson was called for an offensive foul after a challenge by Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao negated a three-point possibly when he converted a basket against Caelan Tiongson underneath the basket.

“I don’t have a problem with the physicality of the game, but I’m one person that is being fouled by the whole team [and] I got to be able to play [physical too],” he said.

Barangay Ginebra also seeks a 3-0 advantage over NorthPort in the other semis game at 7:30 p.m. in the other series which is a complete contrast to the competitive nature of the TNT-Rain or Shine tussle.

Ginebra has dominated NorthPort with an average margin of 17.5 points after winning both games in convincing fashion. The Gin Kings led by 29 at the half and 35 at one point en route to a 119-106 victory in Game 2.