Off-season stints prepare Texters in coming PBA season
09/23/2009 | 09:31 PM
The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, serious in their bid to retain the PBA Philippine Cup title, underwent off-season stints in Serbia and Las Vegas to prepare them in the league’s 35th season which opens on Oct. 11.
The Texters played eight games against commercial teams in Serbia then capped their preparation for the 2009-2010 season by training at the famed Joe Abunassar ‘Impact Basketball’ program at the Sin City.
They returned to the country last week and had resumed its daily practices at the Moro Lorenzo gym.
“It was a learning experience for us and a time to bond before the season starts," said assistant coach Nash Racela.
Against the Serbian squads, the Texters won three of their eight matches.
“All were tough games because some of the players we played with are also seeing action in the Euro League," Racela added.
Incidentally, Serbia finished runner up behind champion Spain in the recent European Championship.
Racela said it was head coach Chot Reyes’ idea to play exhibition matches in Serbia during the off-season.
“It was coach Chot who suggested it based on his experience with the RP team when they were preparing for the 2007 FIBA-Asia in Tokushima," added the Tropang Texters assistant mentor.
The team hardly changed its roster for the coming season, with Jimmy Alapag, Mark Cardona, Ali Peek, Jared Dillinger, the De Ocampo brothers – Ranidel and Yancy – Harvey Carey, RenRen Ritualo, Jason Castro and Pong Escobal back for another tour of duty with the franchise.
Only Nick Belasco has been added to the lineup, although gone are Yousif Aljamal, Rob Reyes and Geck Chia.
The Tropang Texters are aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back All-Filipino crowns after Great Taste in 1984 and 1985. – GMANews.TV
Mark Cardona
The Texters played eight games against commercial teams in Serbia then capped their preparation for the 2009-2010 season by training at the famed Joe Abunassar ‘Impact Basketball’ program at the Sin City.
They returned to the country last week and had resumed its daily practices at the Moro Lorenzo gym.
“It was a learning experience for us and a time to bond before the season starts," said assistant coach Nash Racela.
Against the Serbian squads, the Texters won three of their eight matches.
“All were tough games because some of the players we played with are also seeing action in the Euro League," Racela added.
Incidentally, Serbia finished runner up behind champion Spain in the recent European Championship.
Racela said it was head coach Chot Reyes’ idea to play exhibition matches in Serbia during the off-season.
“It was coach Chot who suggested it based on his experience with the RP team when they were preparing for the 2007 FIBA-Asia in Tokushima," added the Tropang Texters assistant mentor.
The team hardly changed its roster for the coming season, with Jimmy Alapag, Mark Cardona, Ali Peek, Jared Dillinger, the De Ocampo brothers – Ranidel and Yancy – Harvey Carey, RenRen Ritualo, Jason Castro and Pong Escobal back for another tour of duty with the franchise.
Only Nick Belasco has been added to the lineup, although gone are Yousif Aljamal, Rob Reyes and Geck Chia.
The Tropang Texters are aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back All-Filipino crowns after Great Taste in 1984 and 1985. – GMANews.TV
