TEXTERS START QUEST FOR 2ND STRAIGHT TITLE VS GIN KINGS

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Talk n Text, the Commissioner’s Cup champ beefed up by imports Steffphon Pettigrew and Sam Daghles, opens its campaign for a rare back-to-back title runs when it faces off with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

Though not having much preparation for the season-ending tourney after winning the second conference only last April 29, the Tropang Texters are considered the favorites against a Ginebra side depleted by injuries to Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and Chris Ellis.

On Friday, the Kings reeled with a 99-108 setback against the Alaska Aces.

The Texters are barely back in training camp, but coach Jong Uichico said that should not be an excuse for his team to take it easy in their return to PBA action.

For Uichico, winning the PBA Commissioner’s Cup should not also be an excuse for his team to relax and not contend for the Governors Cup.

Uichico stressed they will come out and do their best to follow up their Commissioner’s Cup title run for back-to-back championships which he has done twice with San Miguel Beer.

“It’s totally not impossible to do,” said Uichico, now the fourth winningest coach in the PBA with nine championships. He has just snapped out of a tie with Chot Reyes (eight) behind Tim Cone (18), Baby Dalupan (15) and Norman Black (11).

“We really should follow up our championship. Look at San Miguel, they won the Philippine Cup then were eliminated in the following conference. What will the people remember?” Uichico asked.

Uichico cited the recent four-peat run of Purefoods to stress back-to-back titles can really be achieved.

“(Fatigue coming from one long conference) is always a thought. But the players can instead take it as a challenge,” he said.

“To relax after a championship should not be the mindset. One should always challenge himself being a pro, athlete and competitor,” Uichico added. “But it’s really up to the individual to take the challenge or give in to human nature to relax after winning a championship. It’s a question of attitude.”

The TNT coach is convinced their players will not find an excuse to take it easy in the Governors’ Cup.

“You can easily find an excuse anytime. There are 1,000 excuses anytime. But that should not be the mindset,” he said.

Uichico has had successive titles with San Miguel Beer in 1999 and in 2000 while Talk n Text has also scored back-to-back crowns in 2011, ruling the Philippine Cup then the Commissioner’s Cup under coach Chot Reyes.

Uichico will now have a deeper rotation with their acquisition of regular import Pettigrew from Western Kentucky U in the US NCAA and Asian recruit Daghles from Jordan.

Daghles is easily the most famous Asian import in the tourney, being a tormentor of Gilas Pilipinas in at least two Asian meets.

A 6-foot-3 guard who played for San Diego Mesa CC and Midwestern State in US collegiate ball, Daghles led the Jordan team in slamming the quarterfinals door shut on the PHL quintet in the 2007 FIBA Asian Championship in Tokushima, Japan.

In Wuhan, China in 2011, Daghles delivered the dagger baskets as Jordan topped the Rajko Toroman-mentored Gilas Pilipinas in a close semifinal battle.

With Daghles and naturalized player Rasheim Wright as lead lights, the Jordanians made podium finishes in the 2009 and 2011 Asian jousts. (SB)

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