Basketball
Talk ‘N Text, Powerade debut in Commissioner’s Cup vs separate foes
PBA/Nuki Sabio
Talk ‘N Text and Powerade, the two teams that slugged it out in the recent PBA Philippine Cup finals, will make their debut in the Commissioner’s Cup Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Tropang Texters battle the Meralco Bolts, who are playing its third game in seven days, at 5:15 p.m.
The Bolts split their first two games against top teams B-MEG and Petron, and face another acid test in the Tropang Texters bannered by former NCAA standout Omar Samhan.
“This is our third game in a week against an elite team,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. “Hopefully, we have enough legs to battle them using our quickness, the same weapon we used against the mighty Petron Boosters.”
“In a short conference, every game matters, that’s why we are treating each game like a playoff game. You can’t blink.”
Samhan joined the Tropang Texters at the height during their semifinal series against the Boosters last conference, but he will only be making his PBA debut against the Bolts.
Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes said Meralco’s athletic impor Jarrid Famous would enjoy an edge versus Samhan.
“We’ve only had four practices with [Samhan] and we’ll only know his true value during actual games,” said Reyes. “Meralco pretty much know its import already while we’ll be formally introduced on Friday.”
Meanwhile, Powerade meets an unpredictable Rain or Shine squad in the main game at 7:30 p.m.
After nearly a Cinderella run to the Philippine Cup finals, the Tigers have become the subject of controversy over the past two weeks.
Reports of an impending sale of its PBA franchise to San Miguel Corporation and a proposed trade featuring one of the team’s marquee players, Marcio Lassiter, had made the Tigers the talk of the town.
Powerade coach Bo Perasol will look to the game to see whether his players will be affected by the issues surrounding the team.
“There are things happening beyond our control and the players have realized that. How Marcio and the rest of the players can deal with that, sa Friday pa lang namin malalaman,” said Perasol. “But I would like to believe that gone are the days when Powerade is being called an underdog team. We’re here to contend in the Commissioner’s Cup.”
By tapping former SMART-Gilas Pilipinas prospect and NBA veteran Dwayne Jones, the Tigers believe that they have finally found the missing piece for their goal of winning a championship.
“I think Dwayne is the right import for us. I know he’s good and we’ve made a right pickup. But I want him to dominate and that’s exactly what I want to see in him,” said Perasol.
Jones, a rebounding demon, was on the radar of the national program as a candidate for naturalization before being signed to a contract by the Phoenix Suns in 2010. SMART-Gilas ended up signing Marcus Douthit, who will be reinforcing the Air 21 Express in the tournament.
