THE BLUR LIKES TEXTERS’ CHANCES
One team that’s been playing real well lately is Talk ‘N Text and the team has been rewarded with the first slot in the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals with a rout of Barako Bull Saturday.
Jayson Castro, a leading candidate in the Best Player of the Conference derby, feels everything is falling in place at the right time.
Mercurial import Ivan Johnson has been turning in one sterling performance after another, leading observers to place the Texters in the championship mix.
“Yung team ok naman especially si Ivan na sobrang ganda ng nilalaro. Yung mga defensive schemes namin, naeexecute na namin dahil kumpleto na kami ngayon. We have him na kayang dumepensa one-on-one. Hopefully sa semis, ganun din,” Castro said after Talk ‘N Text coasted to a 127-97 beatdown of Barako Bull in the quarterfinals.
With Johnson’s temper constantly in question, Castro assured the TNT fans that they have their import in check, saying, “Alam na namin kung pano sya kontrolin. Si (team manager) Jimmy (Alapag), alam nya kung pano sabihan si Ivan.”
“Mas gusto namin yun na mainit sya kasi minsan, mas ginaganahan sya maglaro.”
Also, Castro is having a stellar conference so far as he is number two in the Best Player of the Conference race.
“Pagdating sa mga awards, gusto ko rin pero mas gusto ko magchampion na para lahat kami masaya. Yung mga award na yun, reward na lang,” he said. “Mas gusto ko talaga yun lalo na’t matagal na kaming di nagcha-champion.”
Talk ‘N Text has been title-less over the last six conference, its last championship coming in the 2012-13 Philippine Cup when it won a historic third straight all-Filipino title.
Castro believes that the Tropang Texters can once again ascend to the top of the PBA mountain, and he said that it has really been their defense which has allowed them to reap rewards this Commissioner’s Cup.
“Yung focus talaga namin sa practice, defense eh, Yung offense naman, based lang sa flow ng game,” he said, as Talk ‘N Text shifts its focus to the task ahead, may it be Purefoods or Alaska.
“Kung sino yung aabante, paghahandaan na lang namin.” (RL)
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