DUBAI—Talk ’N Text coach Chot Reyes and his Tropang Texters flew to this global city and business hub south of the Persian Gulf as early as Monday to make sure his troops get enough rest to withstand two tough games against teams which could spoil their aspirations for a rare grand slam.
The Tropang Texters will face the B-Meg Llamados on Thursday and the Barangay Ginebra Kings on Friday, hoping to sustain the momentum of a three-game winning streak that left them as the only unbeaten team in the season-ending Philippine Basketball Association Governor’s Cup.
Both games are scheduled at 7 p.m. (11 p.m. Manila time) at the Al Shabab Sports Club.
Reyes said this trip is filled with unknowns, yet offers his chargers a chance to know each other more. Can Jimmy (Alapag) play? Who will B-Meg’s import be? How do you play back-to-back? How to stop a superimport like Stinson?
Those were just among the nagging questions Reyes and the Tropang Texters, coming off a frantic 89-85 win against Powerade on Saturday, hope to address.
“This is an unbelievably tough sked for us coming off a tough out-of-town [game] in Digos,” Reyes said. “But it is what it is. We should find out a lot about ourselves in this trip.”
He surely will be pleased once he finds out that the Llamados are terribly exhausted from the long travel that brought them to this gulf state with temperatures rising as high 46 degrees.
The delegation that included the B-Meg Llamados left Manila at noon on Monday and arrived here past Tuesday midnight.
But B-Meg coach Jorge Gallent remains optimistic that his chargers will be able to recharge quickly and provide TNT a good challenge, especially with a new import around.
B-Meg (2-2), coming off a 104-92 win against Meralco on Sunday, will be powered by Darell Hinson, a journeyman who has played in Puerto Rico, Poland, Australia and Germany.
“He’s a hard worker and a tough defender. He can also shoot,” Gallent said of Hinson, who arrived on Sunday night to replace the ineffective Stefhon Hannah.
Gallent said Rafi Reavis is also expected to suit up to shore up B-Meg’s frontline.
Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said he doesn’t believe they have an advantage, because TNT is playing two games in two nights.
“I don’t think it’s an advantage for us. Their players don’t play 35 to 40 minutes per. They don’t get tired. So fatigue will not be a factor,” Uichico said.
Barangay Ginebra is aiming for second-straight win and third in four games.
The Ginebra coach said JC Intal is still hurting for a bruised right foot but is keeping his fingers crossed that the versatile wingman could play 100 percent on Friday. He also hopes that Curtis Stinson’s competitiveness and energized game would click against the Tropang Texters.
The Ginebra import averaged triple-double a game with 18.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.3 assists.
