Happy Birthday, Tito “Noy” Castillo ( Aug 21 )

Happy Birthday, Tito “Noy” Castillo

1998 PBA Rookie Draft 2nd overall pick
11-season PBA veteran 
4x PBA champion
2001 PBA Mythical Second Team member 
2001 PBA Most Improved Player
Citadel Bulldogs point guard
2002 RP Team member for the Busan Asian Games

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

An MVP in his last varsity year for the Citadel, Castillo wound up as the schools' all-time triple scorer with 230 conversions, averaging 11.0 ppg, while calling the plays at the military school in Charlston, South Carolina. At New Albany High School in Indiana, he was a soccer and basketball star. He averaged 21.5 points and 4.3 assists as a senior prepster in 92-93 and was named to the state's mythical third team. It was therefore understandable that a lot of eyes were focused on this good-looking young man when he gets to wear his first official PBA uniform. "I was aware of a lot of people's expectations from me, and I was a little bit affected on the first few games. But I said to myself that I've gotta focus on my game rather than on what other people are thinking of me. If I have a big game, then fine, if not, it doesn't really matter. Whats important is my team is winning and I've gone through a lot of adjustments and it's still goin' on. But I guess I've settled down a bit now. Not so much, but good enough," said Castillo. Castillo had very well settled with his new life as a pro basketball player, but this softspoken, unassuming young man from Louisville, Kentucky, swears he misses his family a lot and is looking forward to visiting his folks after the season. "Were close. Everyone in the family knows that I'm here strictly on business and we always look forward to having some time together. So, I guess I'll be going home to spend Christmas with them after the season's through,"  he mused. But homesickness does not diminish a bit Castillo's effectivity inside the game. Alternating at the point guard spot with veteran Gerry Esplana, Castillo chips in the much-needed points from the outside complimenting the heads-up performance of Shell's vaunted frontline composed of John Best, Benjie Paras, and Victor Pablo. Together with the indefatigable Donald Williams, Castillo makes up for the last piece of the puzzle that keeps the Shell Super Unleaded team floating. "The team doesn't really expect me to pour on the points since we've got a lot of other good players who could do just that. My role is to get the ball on their hands or serve as a kick-out option if the defense collapse on them. It's a good feeling though that I'm given the green light to shoot, but I feel that it will serve the team best if I'll be selective on my shots," Castillo said casually.