Why do you look sad Jason? May problema ba? Is Chot Reyes always screaming at you? Is Paul Artadi too annoying? Is Ali Peek too scary? Don’t you enjoy learning from Jimmy Alapag? Are you upset that, in the Finals, no one is as fast or strong as you are?

Maybe Castro has an identity crisis. Ano ba talaga siya? Point guard? Scoring guard? Or power forward? I probably should call him Talk ‘N Text’s new power-point-2-guard-forward. He can do what point guards do. He can definitely do what most scoring guards do (except shoot three-pointers). And here’s what drives opponents insane; he can do what most power forwards are paid to do. He entered the PBA because of his speed. He’s thriving in the league because of his power.

Yet during the second quarter of Game 1, San Miguel felt they had just the guy who could run with Castro; Denok Miranda. Apparently, the Beermen also felt, with fun-and-gunners Miranda, Artadi and Joseph Yeo playing significant minutes, they could sprint with Talk ‘N Text. For a time, it worked. Both teams gave fans in Victorias City a breathtaking second quarter (the highest-scoring quarter for both teams).

Alas, for Castro, the frenetic pace was perfect. For the Beermen, the blitz-like first half took their breath away. Literally. I knew Ato Agustin drives San Miguel’s V8 engine in different ways. Pwede manual. Pwede automatic. But during a crucial stretch bridging the third and fourth quarters, it was clear. Jay Washington’s leg cramped. Danny Seigle jogged. Mick Pennisi jogged even slower. In the second half, Agustin seemed destined to drive San Miguel’s offense Fred Flintstones-style. Hindi lang de-pedal. They went de-paa.

As San Miguel slowed down, Talk ‘N Text pushed onwards. The Tropang Texters took off after San Miguel turnovers, missed baskets, even made baskets. Castro ran. Washington limped. And after playing TNT-style basketball in the first half, San Miguel probably realized: only TNT knows the best way to play like TNT.

What if, in the semis, Ginebra inadvertently made the Beermen look better than what they are? The way I think Washington is a mismatch problem. The way I think Alex Cabagnot is about to put on a Finals show. The way I believe San Miguel’s more “prominent" bench has the edge. Washington couldn’t finish the game. Cabagnot couldn’t wiggle free. Sunday Salvacion, in 10 minutes, failed to take a single shot.

Or am I likewise jumping the gun after watching Castro quickly score inside points the way a power-point-2-guard-forward is supposed to? San Miguel hopes critics are speaking too soon. Castro, even if his worried look suggests otherwise, hopes the fun has only begun.

Mico Halili, GMA News TV