PBA: Texters parade Williams, Reyes vs struggling Tigers

Woe to the Coa-Cola Tigers. Already mired by a four-game losing skid, the team now faces a Talk `N Text squad that just got even better with the acquisition of one-time MVP Kelly Williams and former Rookie of the Year Ryan Reyes in an interesting PBA Fiesta Cup match Friday at the Araneta Coliseum. Williams and Reyes are expected to suit up for the Tropang Texters in the 5 p.m. encounter, less than 48 hours after serving as major players in a three-team, nine-player trade involving Sta. Lucia, Barako Energy Coffee and Talk `N Text. But despite the presence of the two former national team mainstays, coach Chot Reyes admitted not knowing what the immediate effect of the two former Sta. Lucia superstars’ transfer to the team. “Friday’s game is going to be fraught with so much uncertainty," he said. Currently second in the standings with a 6-2 record, the Tropang Texters have not seen action since May 1 when it beat Air21 Express in a high-scoring contest, 120-115. They will be gunning for their sixth straight win in the 5 p.m. game. The Tigers will parade a new import in Rashad Bell, who will be making his second tour of duty with the team after first suiting up with the franchise in 2007 before playing for Talk `N Text last season. Bell is taking over the place of James Penny, whom Coca-Cola management decided to let go when he badly missed two free throws in the last 2.5 seconds of what appeared to be a won game against Alaska. Instead, the missed opportunity paved the way for the Aces to come up with a perfectly executed alley-oop play in the final seconds to pull off a thrilling 104-103 victory. “I would like to hope that Bell’s entry would change our fortunes," said coach Bo Perasol. “But it will take more than our import to change that. Our locals would need to step up their play. The Tigers (4-5) remain as the only team to have dealt defending champion San Miguel its lone loss in the season-ending tournament. But after starting the meet by winning three straight games, the team lost five of their last six matches, including four in a row. Still, Perasol is hopeful Coca-Cola can turn things around by signing up Bell. “We’re eyeing to win five of our last nine games to make it to the quarter-finals outright." In the main game, Alaska try to put behind its 91-87 loss to Sta. Lucia Wednesday night when it squares off with Rain or Shine in the 7:30 p.m. main game. Both the Aces and Elasto Painters sport similar 4-4 cards, although Rain or Shine is fresh from a morale-boosting 106-102 overtime win over Air21 made possible by Jai Lewis’ game-tying three-pointer and six straight important points in the extra period. - RCJ, GMANews.TV