#PBA2015 GOVS CUP PREVIEW: TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS vs ALASKA ACES – THE WOUNDED & THE UNDEFEATED

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After winning the 2015 Commish Cup and adding a pair of highly-touted imports to the roster, TNT was supposed to be a dominant force in the third conference. That hasn’t happened yet, though, mainly because its two biggest stars — Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo — continue to nurse injuries they sustained in that memorable title run. So far, the other guys on the team, along with imports Steffphon Pettigrew and Sam Daghles, have been able to hold the fort, going 1-1 in their first two games, but the Texters have looked far from menacing. They look vulnerable.

The Aces, meanwhile, are on a completely different boat. They were ousted in the quarterfinals of the Commish Cup, getting swept by Purefoods in their best-of-three series, but they have started hot this conference, winning their first three assignments by an average of 12 points and zooming to the top of the standings. The question, of course, is can they sustain this run, especially when they tackle the stronger teams like TNT, PUR, BAR, and SMB.

This match will be an interesting barometer of where each team is right now. If TNT can beat ALA even with a depleted roster, then that validates their depth and their imports’ talents, but if ALA can topple TNT, then maybe the Aces can be considered serious title threats this conference.

Previous results:

PHL Cup

ALA beat TNT, 100-98

COMM Cup

TNT beat ALA, 101-93

1. WALKING WOUNDED OR PLAYING POSSUM?

Without their two main weapons, the Texters haven’t looked very sharp to start this conference. Sure, Pettigrew and Daghles have good stats, but this team just isn’t the same without the Blur and RDO. Their absence definitely weakens this club, but this could also be an elaborate scheme for both players to save up their energy for another sterling mid-to-late conference run that will put them in the thick of the title race.

Season stats:

Castro: 18.0ppg, 4.2rpg, 5.2apg, 1.3spg, 2.7 triples per game, 43.2 3pt%, 44.7 FG%

RDO: 15.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.0apg, 2.2 triples per game, 40.1 3pt%, 47.4 FG%

2. PETTIGREW’S PEDESTRIAN OUTING

Import Steffphon Pettigrew has tried to fill in the void left by Castro & RDO, but he has struggled a bit. Without its two biggest local stars, TNT needs Pettigrew to put up really monster stats, but the former Western Kentucky Hilltopper just hasn’t been able to do that yet. His numbers are good, sure, but when ranged against top imports like Liam McMorrow and Orlando Johnson, well, let’s just say Pettigrew seems a little pedestrian compared to those guys.

vs BAR: 23pts, 13rebs, 1ast, 8/16 FGs, 2/2 3pts

3. SAM DAGHLES: BUILDING WITH BRICKS

Another guy on whom TNT is heavily relying is Jordanian superstar Sam Daghles. Daghles has done okay in his first two PBA games, but we have yet to see him really take control of an entire match. He has impressed with his court vision and playmaking skills, but he has also struggled with his shooting so far. If he can be more efficient in this game against ALA, the Texters may just pull out an important win.

vs BAR: 10pts, 11rebs, 7asts, 3/17 FGs

4. TNT: OUTGUNNED & OUTMUSCLED

In their previous game, the Texters just didn’t have the kind of shooting and rebounding to match up against a big and efficient Barako team. TNT had no answer for Liam McMorrow, and they got outrebounded, 62-54. They also had a tough time shooting from the two-point area, making just 20 of their 55 attempts. ALA is going to be a little bigger than TNT as well, so the Texters’ work will be cut out for them. Dehado na naman sila sa loob.

vs BAR:

Rebounding – BAR 62, TNT 54

FG Shooting – BAR 41.3%, TNT 36.8%

Turnovers – BAR 8, TNT 13

5. ROMEO TRAVIS: STRUGGLING FROM THE FIELD

Alaska, meanwhile, can lean on the explosive Romeo Travis. Travis had a great game in ALA’s win over Ginebra last week, putting up 34 points and 16 rebounds, but he slowed down a bit against the Painters, where he recorded 23 points and 13 boards and shot just 9/22 from the floor. Against a top-caliber team like TNT, Travis will need to pick his spots better and make them count, or else the Aces might be staring at their first loss in four games.

First 2 games: 26.0ppg, 14.0rpg, 64.5 FG%

vs ROS: 23pts, 13rebs, 40.9 FG%

6. JAZUL, CASIO, & HONTIVEROS: BACKCOURT BOMBERS

Compensating for Travis’s struggled from the field was the hot shooting of backcourt bombers RJ Jazul, JV Casio, and Dondon Hontiveros. The three locals combined to hit 7 of ALA’s 8 threes in that game, and combined to score a total of 35 points. If coach Alex Compton can get that same level of production from these three snipers, it will open things up for guys like Travis, Sonny Thoss, and Vic Manuel down low.

vs ROS:

Jazul – 14pts, 2asts, 3 triples

Casio – 11pts, 3rebs, 5asts, 2 triples

Hontiveros – 10pts, 5rebs, 3asts, 1 stl, 2 triples

7. VIC MANUEL: MUSCLE & EFFICIENCY

Speaking of Manuel, the Muscle Man was hella efficient against ROS, playing just 13 minutes off the bench but scoring 13 points and grabbing 4 boards (3 on the offensive end). If ALA can get Manuel to play efficiently again, the Aces have a strong chance of upending the Texters here.

First 2 games: 6.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 4/7 FGs

vs ROS: 13pts, 4rebs, 6/7 FGs

8. ABUEVA LOVES PLAYING AGAINST TNT

Perhaps the X-Factor in this game will be ALA’s Calvin Abueva. The Beast hasn’t had a really strong game yet this conference, averaging just 14.7 minutes per game, but ALA will need him to play well if they want to really beat TNT. Abueva has played well against TNT so far this season, even hitting the game-winner against the Texters in the PHL Cup, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact he can bring to this game.

vs TNT (PHL Cup): 26pts, 22rebs, 3asts, 1blk (and game-winning basket)

vs TNT (COMM Cup): 16pts, 7rebs, 2asts, 2stls, 1blk

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