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Loaded, fancied
By: Zean Macamay, Journal Online
IT’S been 24 years since a team has successfully defended an all-Filipino title. Can Talk ‘N Text finally break that streak this
season?
Coach Chot Reyes feels it’s not easy. In fact, he says, repeating as champion in a tournament without imports is much
tougher than winning the rarest feat in pro basketball.
“Defending an all-Filipino crown is much more difficult than winning a Grand Slam,” said Reyes.
The five-time champion coach, who became the first to win three Philippine Cup crowns with as many different teams, and
the Tropang Texters begin their title-retention drive tonight when they face Rain or Shine in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at
the Araneta Coliseum.
Reyes is ranked tied for third along with Norman Black with the most number of Philippine Cup titles, behind the great
Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan (6) and best friend Tim Cone (4).
But what makes him different from the rest is that he was able to lead three ball clubs – Coney Island in 1993, Coca-Cola in
2002 and Talk ‘N Text last season – to the most prestigious feat a coach can achieve.
His Texters have kept the core of last year’s winning team. Mac-Mac Cardona, Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro, Harvey Carey,
Ranidel de Ocampo and Jared Dillinger have not been touched, and Talk ‘N Text added some frontline men in Nic Belasco
and Mark Isip to help out pulling down those rebounds for this run-and-gun club.
“We expect to start strong while anticipating the unexpected because the team we are playing has a lot of new guys,” said
Reyes. “And while we’re basically the same, there are some new things we will be trying out.”
Their first test will come against a team that showed tremendous improvement for the past two conferences. The Elasto
Painters are no longer the perennial whipping boys, although chemistry might be suspect since almost half of the squad are
newcomers.
“Half of the team is new but they have been working hard together,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. “Gigil na sila,
they are ready to play and I have high hopes on our rookies.”
The Painters snatched Mark Telan, Mike Hrabak and Jeffrei Chan during the off-season through trades, and then got Jervy
Cruz, a multi-MVP UAAP awardee, and guard Marcy Arellano from the August Draft.
Still, the load will fall on Gabe Norwood, Sol Mercado and Jay-R Reyes, with hopes that Ryan Arana, TY Tang and Jireh
Ibanez could have a good scoring night.
Coca-Cola, another team that did a major shake-up in its line-up, and Sta. Lucia Realty also make their debut, clashing in
the 5 p.m. game after Smart-Gilas open the curtains at 2:30 p.m. against Burger King.
Although aging, the Tigers are considered as a team that has a shot at making the semi-finals. They managed to acquire
veteran Dennis Espino, Norman Gonzales and Ricky Calimag from Sta. Lucia, and then obtained under-rated Larry
Rodriguez from Burger King. Ken Bono, another former UAAP MVP who played for San Miguel last season, was also added
to the line-up.
Espino’s addition to Coca-Cola inserts another player who is an expert at the low post. His tandem with Asi Taulava makes
the Tigers a very formidable rebounding team.
Coca-Cola, too, was able to get Wesley Gonzales from San Miguel, but decided to let go of long-court artist Mark Macapagal.
Macapagal was relegated to the unrestricted free agent list, with right to receive salary.
The Realtors, meantime, will have Kelly Williams back. The former MVP missed half of the games in the Fiesta Conference
after being hit with a rare blood disorder. Paolo Mendoza, a veteran of the Realtors, was relegated to the unrestricted free
agent market with Sta. Lucia activating Chito Jaime.
By: Zean Macamay, Journal Online
IT’S been 24 years since a team has successfully defended an all-Filipino title. Can Talk ‘N Text finally break that streak this
season?
Coach Chot Reyes feels it’s not easy. In fact, he says, repeating as champion in a tournament without imports is much
tougher than winning the rarest feat in pro basketball.
“Defending an all-Filipino crown is much more difficult than winning a Grand Slam,” said Reyes.
The five-time champion coach, who became the first to win three Philippine Cup crowns with as many different teams, and
the Tropang Texters begin their title-retention drive tonight when they face Rain or Shine in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at
the Araneta Coliseum.
Reyes is ranked tied for third along with Norman Black with the most number of Philippine Cup titles, behind the great
Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan (6) and best friend Tim Cone (4).
But what makes him different from the rest is that he was able to lead three ball clubs – Coney Island in 1993, Coca-Cola in
2002 and Talk ‘N Text last season – to the most prestigious feat a coach can achieve.
His Texters have kept the core of last year’s winning team. Mac-Mac Cardona, Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro, Harvey Carey,
Ranidel de Ocampo and Jared Dillinger have not been touched, and Talk ‘N Text added some frontline men in Nic Belasco
and Mark Isip to help out pulling down those rebounds for this run-and-gun club.
“We expect to start strong while anticipating the unexpected because the team we are playing has a lot of new guys,” said
Reyes. “And while we’re basically the same, there are some new things we will be trying out.”
Their first test will come against a team that showed tremendous improvement for the past two conferences. The Elasto
Painters are no longer the perennial whipping boys, although chemistry might be suspect since almost half of the squad are
newcomers.
“Half of the team is new but they have been working hard together,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. “Gigil na sila,
they are ready to play and I have high hopes on our rookies.”
The Painters snatched Mark Telan, Mike Hrabak and Jeffrei Chan during the off-season through trades, and then got Jervy
Cruz, a multi-MVP UAAP awardee, and guard Marcy Arellano from the August Draft.
Still, the load will fall on Gabe Norwood, Sol Mercado and Jay-R Reyes, with hopes that Ryan Arana, TY Tang and Jireh
Ibanez could have a good scoring night.
Coca-Cola, another team that did a major shake-up in its line-up, and Sta. Lucia Realty also make their debut, clashing in
the 5 p.m. game after Smart-Gilas open the curtains at 2:30 p.m. against Burger King.
Although aging, the Tigers are considered as a team that has a shot at making the semi-finals. They managed to acquire
veteran Dennis Espino, Norman Gonzales and Ricky Calimag from Sta. Lucia, and then obtained under-rated Larry
Rodriguez from Burger King. Ken Bono, another former UAAP MVP who played for San Miguel last season, was also added
to the line-up.
Espino’s addition to Coca-Cola inserts another player who is an expert at the low post. His tandem with Asi Taulava makes
the Tigers a very formidable rebounding team.
Coca-Cola, too, was able to get Wesley Gonzales from San Miguel, but decided to let go of long-court artist Mark Macapagal.
Macapagal was relegated to the unrestricted free agent list, with right to receive salary.
The Realtors, meantime, will have Kelly Williams back. The former MVP missed half of the games in the Fiesta Conference
after being hit with a rare blood disorder. Paolo Mendoza, a veteran of the Realtors, was relegated to the unrestricted free
agent market with Sta. Lucia activating Chito Jaime.