Gilas Pilipinas team member Jayson Castro explained to the media why he used the name “William” on his jersey on his current stint with the Philippines men’s national basketball team. The Gilas point guard stated that he has been using the surname of his father, Ronald William, a US Navy man formerly based in Olongapo City.
Photo Credit: Gilas Pilipinas/Paul Ryan Tan
According to Jayson Castro he has been using the surname William, since birth and wearing similar jerseys with the name at the back during his elementary days in Olongapo City. The name changed of Castro to William got the attentions of netizens that sparked online discussions.
Jayson explains further that the switch from William to Castro came during the time when his parents got divorced while he was entering the age of puberty. His mother told him to use her surname Castro the moment the divorce process got completed. So since the divorce of his parents he used the surname Castro.
The Gilas playmaker also stated that since high school he used the surname Castro but on his documents, such as p(–foul word(s) removed–)ports and other papers he used the surname William. Due to the international scope of FIBA Asia and as a requirement he used his real surname William, his Gilas Pilipinas stint, is his second time that he used the surname William.
Jayson previously used the surname William during his Philippine Youth team days a few years back representing the Philippines. Strict rules on uniforms in international tournaments prompted the change from his regular Castro surname to his real surname William as the FIBA Asia Championship starts.
