TEXTERS, KINGS PART WAYS
Three-time reigning champion Talk n Text rides the momentum of back-to-back wins while tough challenger Barangay Ginebra San Miguel looks to bounce back from a shattering loss as they clash in their keenly awaited match in the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Tied with identical 3-1 win-loss cards, the Tropang Texters and the Kings part ways at 5:15 p.m. topbilling a super Sunday card that also features Rain or Shine versus GlobalPort in the 3 p.m. curtainraiser.
The Texters chase a third straight win following successive victories over the Air21 Express and the GlobalPort Batang Pier while the Kings are out to get back on track after falling in an ambush by the Meralco Bolts.
It’s a keenly awaited duel between teams led by players who are band of brothers in the national team.
They are expected to figure in a fierce showdown in this contest.
LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar are on one side with former Gilas Pilipinas players Greg Slaughter, Dylan Ababou and Mac Baracael, and old Ginebra mainstays Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand.
On the other side are Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro, Larry Fonacier and Ranidel de Ocampo bannering the TnT team that includes Kelly Williams, Harvey Carey and new recruit Danny Seigle.
The Kings are expected to wage an all-out battle in a bid to rebound from their 87-100 rout by the Bolts Tuesday.
Talk n Text coach Norman Black anticipates a war.
“Because of Ginebra’s size, holding our own on the boards and limiting their post scoring are major concerns,” said Black.
“But I think the main key will be our ability to slow down LA (Tenorio) and Mark (Caguioa). They are not only scoring but they are also the main ones feeding their bigs,” Black added.
Jimmy Alapag played his 500th PBA game and his Talk n Text teammates helped make the milestone more memorable with a 106-93 conquest of GlobalPort the last time out.
Alapag took Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia to school with a steady, efficient quarterbacking of the Tropang Texters.
The brilliant Fil-Am playmaker laced his newest personal career achievement with 17 points and six assists to join the league’s elite 3,000-assist club. He was 8-of-8 from the stripe in this game and 27-of-27 dating back to last season.
Seigle, finally making his TnT debut, and Ranidel de Ocampo, returning from the injured list, put in their share as the Texters reasserted their mastery of the Batang Pier with a dominant performance.
The Kings are also coming off a lopsided game. They were the ones on the losing end, though. (SB)
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