PBA Commissioner's Cup: Gilas 5 debuts vs all-Pinoy champ TNT

The Philippines-Smart Gilas team will have no less than the reigning all-Filipino champion Talk 'N Text for its opponent in its debut game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. To the Tropang Texters belong the distinction of testing the mettle of the national developmental team bound for the FIBA-Asia Championship later this year, as the two squads owned by sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan clash on Feb. 25 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The 5 p.m. encounter between Smart Gilas and Talk 'N Text serves as the curtain raiser of a weekend double header that will have San Miguel and Air21 squaring off in the main game at 7:30 p.m. The Beermen-Express tussle features the league’s tallest and shortest imports in 6-foot-4 Ira Brown (Beermen) and 6-foot-2 JaJuan Smith (Express), respectively. The Express will now be handled by Bong Ramos. Talk 'N Text is fresh from winning the Philippine Cup title, beating San Miguel Beer in six games of the best-of-seven title series. Following a week-long rest, the Tropang Texters resume practice on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) as they try to get back in shape in time for their initial collision with Smart-Gilas, whom Reyes holds in high esteem. “There’s nothing amateur about that team," he said of the Gilas squad bannered by amateur standouts Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Aldrech Ramos, Mark Barroca and 6-foot-10 naturalized-player candidate Marcus Douthit. “That team is going to be very, very tough. It has the potential to make it to the Final Four or even the Finals itself." The Smart-Gilas squad saw action in the 2009-2010 Philippine Cup in a campaign marred by controversy and a shortened stint, as their games didn’t have a bearing on the win-loss records of the nine other teams. But this time, the league allowed the nationals to fully compete with the rest of the field, with Smart-Gilas taking over the spot of Barako Bull, which decided to have a leave of absence this conference. Results of the nationals’ matches will be counted, and they are eligible to vie for the second conference title. Talk 'N Text will be reinforced by former Syracuse stalwart Paul Harris, whom Reyes describes as "an excellent defender, has the ability to get rebounds, and ability to play the power forward spot." Four more teams begin their respective title bids on Feb. 23 at the Astrodome. Powerade, bannered by Russel Carter, takes on an Alaska team reinforced by Larry Williams at 5 p.m., while B-Meg Derby Ace and Robert Brown go up against Hassan Adams and Rain or Shine in the main game at 7:30 p.m. The Elasto Painters will now be handled by mutli-titled mentor Yeng Guiao. For the second straight time this season, rookie franchise Meralco and Barangay Ginebra usher in the opening conference of Asia’s pioneering league, going head-to-head in Laoag City on Feb. 18 with two of the most explosive imports, . The Kings will have inside banger Nate Brumfield, while the Bolts' campaign for a breakthrough title lies in the hands of former U.S. NCAA slam dunk champion Anthony Danridge of University of Mexico. - KY, RCJ, GMA News