2 Texters to Play for Gilas in Asiad - Chot Reyes

The early part of Talk `N Text’s campaign in the coming PBA Philippine Cup is not expected to be that smooth.

At least four key personnel of the team, including coach Chot Reyes, may not be around in the first two to three weeks of the season-opening conference owing to injury and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Reyes has been tapped as special assistant to RP-Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman when  the national cage team competes for the gold in the Asiad set Nov. 12 to 27.

Two Tropang Texters --  Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes -- are also likely to go with the Gilas squad as the duo are among the number of players the national team is trying to loan from the PBA.

Kelly Williams

Although the PBA Board has yet to approve the request of the Gilas team, chances of both Williams and Reyes suiting up for flag and country are very positive since Talk `N Text team owner Manny V. Pangilinan is also the president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the country’s governing body for basketball.


Pangilinan likewise happens to be a majority share holder of Meralco, the newest franchise in the pro league.


Meanwhile, recent surgery performed on big man Ranidel de Ocampo will definitely sidelined him for an indefinite period of time.


The 6-foot-7 forward, adjudged the Best Player of the Elimination Round of the 2009-2010 Fiesta Conference, recently went under the knife to remove bone spurs on his feet.


With a manpower shortage, Reyes admitted things are not expected to be rosy for the Tropang Texters in the early going of the All-Filipino meet.

Ryan Reyes

“It will be a difficult conference for us," Reyes said.

“We will be out for almost three weeks, so the other guys really have to raise their level of play."

In Reyes’ absence, long-time assistant Nash Racela and team consultant Norman Black will temporarily call the shots for Talk `N Text. - RCJ, GMANews.TV



Talk n Text has acquired Rich Alvarez and is also looking at Mark Telan as possible addition to the team’s roster with Ranidel de Ocampo recovering from a knee surgery and Kelly Williams set to miss some games while with the RP team in November.
The Tropang Texters, appearing like a new team with the departure of former top gun Mark Cardona and with the absence of De Ocampo, try to toughen up for the upcoming season as they compete in the Qatar Invitational Championship on Sept. 21-23.

The Texters will slug it out with the Qatar national team, France Team B and a Slovenian team in the tough Qatar tourney. “It’s really a tough competition. The organizers allow us to bring imports but we opt not to in preparation for the PBA all-Filipino conference,” said Talk n Text team manager Aboy Castro.

The Texters are optimistic of their chance in the coming season although they’re starting out minus lead frontcourt player De Ocampo who underwent surgery to remove bone spurs on his knee.

De Ocampo won’t be back until towards the end of the year.

“ That’s the reason why we signed up Rich Alvarez. Mark Telan is trying out and we’re looking at his physical condition,” said Castro.

Air21 released Alvarez unconditionally while Rain or Shine didn’t re-sign Telan.

Coach Chot Reyes squeezed in Alvarez who is likely to play extended minutes by the time Williams is loaned to the Smart Gilas team. “Rich is signed to a one-conference contract. Of course, that’s renewable depending on his performance,” said Castro.

Alvarez, the 2005 Rookie of the Year awardee, is suiting up with his seventh team after Shell, Alaska, Red Bull, Purefoods, Ginebra and Air21. At Talk n Text, he’s reunited with former Ateneo teammate Larry Fonacier whom the Texters acquired from Alaska.

Ali Peek, meanwhile, returned to Talk n Text to take the place of JR Quinhanan who, on the other hand, went back to Air21.