Douthit helping Talk ‘N Text prepare for B-MEG in finals

InterAKTV/Niko Bolante

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters leave no stone unturned preparing for opponents during playoffs. In practice, coach Chot Reyes usually designates a scouting team, so his players can simulate the plays of their opponents right on the court, instead of just watching tape.

Because they are facing a monster import in B-MEG’s Denzel Bowles, the Tropang Texters have brought in a familiar face to be part of their practices: Marcus Douthit. The former SMART-Gilas Pilipinas center plays Bowles’ role in practice, helping Talk ‘N Text prepare against the Llamados reinforcement.

Douthit is coming off a stint with the Air 21 Express in the Commissioner’s Cup, where he averaged 20.3 points and 20.3 rebounds. He helped the team to three wins in nine games, an improvement over the franchise’s winless run in the Philippine Cup as the Shopinas.com Clickers.

With his contractual obligations to Air 21 officially ended, he has been giving the Tropang Texters a little help, joining the team at the start of the finals.

Douthit is no stranger to the Talk ‘N Text organization, which is owned by Manuel V. Pangilinan, who also bankrolls SMART-Gilas. As a naturalized Filipino, Douthit is also part of the next iteration of the SMART-Gilas program that will be coached by Reyes.

(InterAKTV is part of InterAksyon.com, the online news portal of TV5, which is chaired by Pangilinan.)

It’s not the first time the Tropang Texters turned to a former import to help with the scouting team. Former import Maurice “Mo” Baker playing a similar role for them in last year’s Governor’s Cup, after he was replaced by Scottie Reynolds on the Talk ‘N Text lineup.

Baker eventually made a return to the active roster after the team gave Reynolds his walking papers after Game Five of the finals.

That option, however, will not be available for Talk ‘N Text and Douthit, as PBA imports are not allowed to suit up for two different teams in the same conference.

Paul Harris, who led Talk ‘N Text to the Commissioners’ Cup victory last year, has been tabbed to return next conference, and is reportedly helping out in practice as well.

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