TEXTERS, EXPRESS RUMBLE ANEW
Although they may be several rungs apart in the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup standings, Talk N Text and Air21 have several things in common.
Foremost among them is how to close out games the way they have always wanted, which the two plan to do Wednesday when they collide anew at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gametime is at 5:45 p.m.
“We need to execute better down the stretch and to slow down Talk N Text,” said Express coach Franz Pumaren on the eve of the match.
Should the Tropang Texters do a repeat of their 87-82 win in their initial meeting then they move alongside idle Rain or Shine at joint third, even a share of second, depending on the Petron Blaze-Barako Bull game result later in the evening.
The cellar-dwelling Express, for their part, are eyeing to stay alive in their bid to make it among the eight teams advancing to the playoffs and a win would be a tremendous confidence booster in their bid to realize that goal.
If their first meeting is to be the gauge, the protagonists could be in for a long night.
“It’s a game where we have to play tough and maintain our focus,” said Texters coach Norman Black, whose team needed clutch baskets from Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro, Jai Reyes and Larry Fonacier in the stretch to hold off the Express last Dec. 22.
“Air21 is a much better team than their record indicates. We must do a good job on the boards to win the game.”
It was not the case for TNT its last time out, squandering a 15-point lead before bowing to Petron, 91-105, last Dec. 28.
Black should have seen that collapse coming since signs were already had when TNT narrowly pulled off wins against Rain or Shine and Barako Bull, the last only in overtime. (NC)
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