RELENTLESS ACES FACE DEADLY TEXTERS
Can Alaska sustain the swashbuckling season debut it showed against Purefoods Star?
That’s the question as the Aces face another elite match-up versus the former PBA Philippine Cup three-peat champs Talk n Text Tropang Texters at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces were easily the most impressive in the initial blast of action in PBA Season 40, pulling off a dominant 93-73 win over recent grand slam winners the Purefoods Star Hotshots Wednesday.
“We really prepared hard against them,” said Alaska chief playmaker Jvee Casio.
The Aces used an untiring, relentless pressing defense in humbling coach Tim Cone and his Hotshots.
Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico himself was impressed, saying they have to be ready for a hell of a game against the Aces.
His concern is that they’re still in a period of adjustment at Talk n Text.
“We’re still adjusting with one another. I’m adjusting to the players, and the players are adjusting to me as well. Hopefully, we hit it off as soon as possible,” he said.
Talk n Text, starting the season flat versus Barangay Ginebra at the Philippine Arena, finally got into the groove in its next game, blasting NLEX, 103-81.
The Tropang Texters made a big turnaround from their 20-point blowout by the Kings, utterly dominating the Road Warriors in handing Uichico his initial win as TnT head coach.
“It’s good we’ve won already, and we can look at the positive that it can bring,” Uichico said.
Uichico said they still have some things to work on as he’s incorporating the systems of coaches Norman Black, Chot Reyes and his own.
“Coach Norman has a different system. I’m bringing back the offense of coach Chot as the players are more comfortable with it,” Uichico pointed out.
Jay Washington, groping for form all night in his TnT return versus Ginebra, hit his stride versus NLEX, delivering a double-double game with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Kelly Williams, Jayson Castro and rookie Matt Ganuelas contributed at least 13 points each as the Texters foiled the Road Warriors’ bid to make it two in a row following a 101-96 topping of the GlobalPort Batang Pier Tuesday. (SB)
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