EARLY EVENING SHOOTOUT
The renowned gunslingers of Talk ‘N Text are being summoned to an early evening shootout by the young guns of Globalport.
And the bell tolls at 5:45 p.m.
Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro and Larry Fonacier face their toughest challenge so far when the defending champion Tropang Texters take on the Batang Pier and their lethal combination of Terrance Romeo and RR Garcia in the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
TNT shares fourth place with Barako Bull on 2-1 cards, while Globalport is at sixth, along with Meralco, on 1-2 slates.
The 3-point territory will be the main launching area for both teams’ offense, with Alapag and Fonacier probably eager to give their young counterparts a taste of their own medicine. Castro, of course, will be all over in a blur.
Romeo, specifically, will be the main focus of TNT’s defense, along with forward Jay Washington, after the No. 5 pick showcased his talent during a spectacular duel with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel superstar Mark Caguioa recently.
Though Caguioa and the Kings prevailed, Romeo, the former Far Eastern phenom, and the Batang Pier gave future opponents a sample of what they’ll be dealing with soon.
Caguioa himself has urged his fellow veterans to rise to the occasion and to show PBA fans that the changing of the guards will not happen this year.
Now the Tropang Texters’ turn to rise to the challenge is at hand.
The Texters are coming off a 114-111 overtime victory over Alaska where Castro, who TNT could unleash either on Romeo or Garcia, racked up 33 points with three triples. Alapag also had three 3-pointers that night and the two of them combined for 15 of 15 free throws.
Neither Romeo nor Garcia is expected to back away from TNT’s deadly trio, especially after that exhilarating show against Ginebra.
Romeo had 27 points in that 109-104 loss and Garcia had 20 behind the 23 of veteran forward Jay Washington, and Globalport will need the same amount of firepower – plus some more from Sol Mercado who went 0 of 4 in 3s and 4 of 12 in 2s – if it is to stand a chance against the rejuvenated Texters.
Washington will be a marked man for the Texters, especially if the former TNT player gets hot early.
Former Barako Bull star Danny Seigle is expected to make his much-anticipated debut with the reloaded Texters – after long years with San Miguel Beer – while forward Ranidel de Ocampo, as good a post-up player as Seigle if not better, is suiting up for the first time following a calf muscle strain that sidelined him from the start.
“We welcome the return of Ranidel from injury and the entry of Danny Seigle,” said TNT coach Norman Black.
Seigle was signed up by TNT after the Energy Cola dropped him from their roster. (WJRHT)
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