Texters, Bolts collide after shaky start
Talk N’ Text seems to have gotten its bearings back despite a shaky start and the loss of a key player.
Meralco is worse off, notwithstanding a re-tooled lineup that prompted many observers to consider it a dark horse.
Who between the Tropang Texters and Bolts would be able to display their usual fiery form should be known Wednesday when they collide in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup at PhilSports Arena.
Talk N Text is coming off a 10-day break following a hard-earned 101-97 victory over Mahindra last Oct. 31, when Jason Castro scattered a game-high 28 points.
Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario, the top two picks overall in the draft, combined for 24 points and 11 boards and helped make up for the absence of Ranidel de Ocampo, who suffered an herniated disc while lifting weights last Oct. 25.
Larry Fonacier also notched a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Texters neutralized the sting of a 98-114 loss to Alaska in their season debut.
Still, TNT coach Jong Uichico is far from satisfied with his charges’ overall game, noting how they barely hung on against Mahindra.
“We have to play better than we have been playing the last two games,” said Uichico.
Meralco should at least be equally pumped up after dropping their first two games.
Exactly a week after absorbing a shock 92-90 loss to Blackwater, no thanks to a buzzer-beating banked shot by Carlo Lastimosa, the Bolts and their seven newcomers aim to put it all together and take their turn at pulling off an upset.
“We need to break into the win column and get some momentum going,” stated Meralco coach Norman Black, who even bared a basic gameplan against TNT.
“We must establish a solid team defense,” said Black. “Jason Castro will be a main concern, but we also must do a good job of defending their outside shooters. Keeping their bigs off the boards will also be crucial.”
Gary David, Cliff Hodge and Jared Dillinger have proved to be their usual steady selves for Meralco, but the likes of the comebacking Jimmy Alapag and Rabeh Al_hussaini, plus newcomers Chris Newsome and Baser Amer, plus veteran Reynel Hugnatan must deliver their ample share for the Bolts to realize their immediate goal. (NC)
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