ON A ROLL TEXTERS TACKLE INJURY-PLAGUED EXPRESS
The hard way, Talk n Text is winning games and coach Norman Black isn’t complaining.
Playing a third game in six days and the Tropang Texters chief bench tactician neither complains.
The hard or easy way, Black is hopeful they can complete a sweep of those three games to stay right behind pacesetters Petron Blaze and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (7-1).
The Texters (5-2) end their pre-Christmas Day tough grind with their 5:15 faceoff with the Air21 Express in the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday.
“There’s something we need to fix though we’re winning, and a win is a win,” said Black.
Versus Rain or Shine and against Barako Bull, Talk n Text blew away mammoth leads before recovering and pulling through at the finish.
“We won the game and that’s the most important thing,” Black said.
Minus the injury-hit chief playmaker Jimmy Alapag, the Texters squandered an early 23-point bulge against the Energy and needed five extra minutes to carve out an 87-80 win.
Alapag, with a strained groin muscle, will still be out for their game against the Express.
Needless to say, Air21 has bigger problems to solve with a poor 1-7 mark.
The Express are virtually out of the running for the twice-to-beat advantage and would need to ignite a rally now if they’re to make the best-of-three quarterfinal series.
Already sputtering and, worse, they lost a key player in Vic Manuel (dislocated shoulder). (SB)
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