TEXTERS BEGIN CHASE FOR 2ND JEWEL THIS SEASON VS BOLTS
Before their core group embarks on a quest to bring the country back on the world cage map, the Talk n Text Tropang Texters will try to regain a lost PBA crown.
After a three-peat feat in the Philippine Cup, the Tropang Texters return to action in pursuit of the Commissioner’s Cup title that they lost to the San Mig Coffee Mixers last year.
They reigned supreme in the mid-season tourney in 2010 with the help of import Paul Harris.
With Keith Benson in tow now, the Texters chase a second straight championship in the current PBA season, opening their bid opposite the Meralco Bolts at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Texters are determined to nail a second jewel of a possible grand slam before Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes and Jared Dillinger join Gilas Pilipinas in full-time training for the FIBA Asia Championships in August.
Without a single player making the national training pool, Meralco can well completely focus on a bid to improve on its fifth-place finish in the recent Philippine Cup.
In its hope to boost its stock, Meralco struck a trade deal with GlobalPort during the league break, acquiring Josh Vanlandingham, Rey Guevarra and Vic Manuel plus a future pick for Sol Mercado, Yousif Aljamal and Kelly Nabong.
“Early test for us with the roster change that we did. TnT is always a tough matchup. They are oozing with talent and championship experience,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
Talk n Text had its own trade transaction, enlisting Rabeh Al-Hussaini for Japeth Aguilar.
“I’m happy to have Rabeh back. He’s a big addition to us, shoring up our frontline,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.
Both Al-Hussaini and Aguilar had a stint with the Ateneo Eagles under Black.
Al-Hussaini, the 2010 Draft No. 2 selection, has yet to make a major breakthrough in the pros, hardly making an impact as an Air21 Express, Petron Blaze Booster and GlobalPort Batang Pier.
Much focus, however, could well be on the imports.
Talk n Text brings in Benson, the first Oakland U product drafted in the NBA, having a brief stint with the Golden State Warriors in 2012.
At 6-11, Benson is the second tallest in the current batch of imports.
Meralco leans on Eric Dawson, untapped in the 2007 NBA Draft but made it to the majors just the same, getting two10-day contracts with the San Antonio Spurs in the 2011-12 campaign.
Dawson is measured at 6-7 13/16. (SB)
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
