EX-TEXTERS LEAD NLEX CHARGE AGAINST TNT
Like ghosts on the prowl, three former Talk ‘N Text players will be out to terrorize their former ballclub Friday a week ahead of Halloween.
Asi Taulava, Mark Cardona and KG Canaleta, who at one time or another donned the Tropang Texters jersey, will banner NLEX when it clashes with TNT in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Talk ‘N Text is looking to rebound from a crushing loss in the inaugural while NLEX is eyeing a follow-up to a rousing start.
Gametime is at 4:15 p.m.
Jong Uichico, on his second game as TNT coach, will be torn between activating Gilas Pilipinas forward Ranidel de Ocampo or letting him rest some more at the risk of falling behind 0-2 in the long-winding elimination round. Making his debut, meanwhile, is NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez, fresh from leading the San Beda Red Lions to a “five-peat” championship in the NCAA wars.
Fernandez, who led the Sta. Lucia Realtors to the Philippine Cup title in 2007, was at the back of the NLEX bench Tuesday when former SLR mentor Adonis Tierra led the Road Warriors to a thrilling 101-96 fightback over GlobalPort and will be calling the shots against TNT, which got blown out by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 101-81, on opening day at the 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Taulava, Cardona and Canaleta moved around the league like restless spirits after their departure from TNT before coming together under the banner of NLEX, a PBA D-League champion team which bought the Air21 Express franchise during the off-season.
Though belonging to the MVP Group, the Road Warriors, like the Meralco Bolts, have been given the green light by their benefactor to create their own identity in the pro league and to sustain the success they enjoyed prior to making the big leap.
Against GlobalPort, the Road Warriors did just that, coming from a nine-point deficit in the last five minutes as Taulava and Canaleta, the team’s elder statesmen, asserted their authority.
“We have guys who can really step up and deliver for this team, we have the experience,” said Taulava, 41, who scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of 3-point plays.
“Against TNT, we have to bring that same energy, the confidence. It’s going to be another tough game, that’s for sure. But we know we have the pieces to grind out a win against a tough team,” added the 2003 Most Valuable Player.
Canaleta buried consecutive 3-point shots during a 17-3 run that torched GlobalPort and spoiled the debut of top draft pick Stanley Pringle.
Uichico could choose to keep De Ocampo and Alapag on hold status, relying instead on a still formidable roster with Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, Larry Fonacier, Ryan Reyes and Harvey Carey, as well as recent acquisition Jay Washington and prized rookies Kevin Alas and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser; but he could change his mind at the last minute.
Taulava, Cardona and Canaleta, on the other hand, will get support from Jonas Villanueva, Simon Atkins, Aldrech Ramos and Mark Borboran as they throw their weight around the way they did against the Batang Pier. (WJRHT)
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