One key player would be making a return, but another would have to sit it out when Talk N Text takes on Blackwater Wednesday at the start of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ranidel de Ocampo would be suiting up for only the second time this season for the Tropang Texters, who are aching to bounce back from two straight sorry finishes and thus successfully defend the crown they won over Rain or Shine last season.
De Ocampo notched 26 points, 15 rebounds and three steals in his first game of the season last Oct. 23, but tweaked his back during a weight training session a couple of days later and spent the rest of the Philippine Cup recovering and getting into game shape.
According to the Gilas mainstay’s confidant, Charlie Dy, De Ocampo is indeed making his grand return Wednesday.
De Ocampo’s stabilizing presence in a team that also boasts of Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier and outstanding rookies Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario could help make up for the absence of import Ivan Johnson, who has to serve out a one-game suspension.
Ironically, it was a tuneup game against Blackwater last Jan. 30 that caused Johnson to incur the penalty after he figured in a brawl with the Elite’s JP Erram and Frank Golla. Aside from the suspension Johnson was also slapped a total P50,000 in fines.
Blackwater sure could use every break it could get in its bid to follow up its first-ever playoffs appearance in the Philippine Cup and Rhett should help.
Rhett is a 6-foot-9 southpaw forward-center out of Ole Miss who went undrafted in the NBA last year and is coming off a stint in Latvia.
Elite coach Leo Isaac is hoping Rhett would complement his local teammates led by Mike Cortez, Reil Cervantes, JP Erram and Art dela Cruz and provide them with the inside presence they sorely lack.
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