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THREE GILAS STARS BEEF UP TEXTERS VS. BOLTS
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A SPLIT was all Talk N Text could come up with in its first two PBA Governors’ Cup games without four Tropang Texters who were resting following their Gilas Pilipinas stint.
Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro and Larry Fonacier are fit and ready to suit up and that should only spell bad news for skidding Meralco in their matchup Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We are looking forward to getting three of our Gilas players back as Ranidel, Jayson and Larry will play,” related coach Norman Black on the eve of the match which his Texters need to win to bounce back from a 99-118 loss to San Mig Coffee and move up to fifth.
That is just TNT’s immediate objective.
“Now the goal is to try and improve our game and get some wins,” stated Black.
The top four of the eight qualified teams following the nine-game eliminations will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals and that is what TNT is gunning for.
“Like everyone else the goal is to aim for the playoff advantage by finishing in the top half of the standings,” admitted Black, who also said skipper Jimmy Alapag is set to play Sunday against GlobalPort.
And while TNT is set to add on to an arsenal that already boasts of the prolific Tony Mitchell and versatile Sean Anthony, Meralco will continue to miss Macmac Cardona (calf injury) and former Texter Jared Dillinger (hip injury).
The absence of the two have clearly taken its toll on the Bolts as they have absorbed back-to-back losses to Barako Bull and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the last via an 85-98 count last Saturday, and given coach Ryan Gregorio a big puzzle to solve.
“Finding ways to get back on track. It’s tough that we are having a hard time scoring, especially with Cardona and Dillinger not yet ready to play,” said Gregorio.
“Because of that weakness we are focused on our defense. We can’t let TNT score over 100 and expect to win.”
Containing Mitchell should prove to be quite a task as he has been averaging a league high 43 points per game, with Anthony chief among those providing support with 22 ppg.
With De Ocampo, Castro and Fonacier finally in harness, Gregorio’s worst fears may come true.
“It has to be a long drawn-out defensive struggle for us to have a chance against the high scoring Tropang Texters,” said Gregorio. (NC)
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EDITORS' PICK
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