Texters, Warriors clash early

With ugly endings in the mid-season conference, four teams seek better starts today when the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup fires off at the Ynares Sports Center.

Sister teams Talk ‘N Text and NLEX battle in the main game at 7 p.m. right after the appetizer between last year’s Finalist Meralco and Columbian Dyip at 4:30 p.m.

Parading an intact line-up, led by familiar import Mike Glover alongside Terrence Romeo and Jayson Castro, the KaTropa are heavily-favored to prevail over the Road Warriors especially with an added motivation after an early quarterfinals exit in the last Commissioner’s Cup.

TNT, then reinforced by the hulking import Joshua Smith, was kicked out of contention with a 0-2 sweep by finalist San Miguel Beer in the best-of-three quarterfinals.

With the former Globalport import Glover at the helm, TNT is not lowering its guard even against the extremely shorthanded Road Warriors squad.

Without Kevin Alas (ACL injury) and Kiefer Ravena (suspended), NLEX will troop to its season-ending conference opener also sans head coach Yeng Guiao and veteran big man Asi Taulava.

Guiao and Asi are currently in Jakarta, Indonesia with the Philippine men’s national basketball team for the 18th Asian Games.

The Road Warriors are not going down without a fight, though, as top deputy Jojo Lastimosa is expected to lead the charge in lieu of Guiao.

“We really know what coach Yeng wants, so it’s just a matter of continuing his style and maybe allowing us to put in our some inputs,” said the PBA legend turned coach Lastimosa. The Warriors are fresh from a meager 2-9 record finish in the mid-season conference.

With veterans Alex Mallari, Cyrus Baguio, JR Quinahan and Larry Fonacier, first time PBA import Olu Oshaulu is tasked to lead the Road Warriors’ attack alongside new players Philip Paniamogan and Bong Galanza from free agency.

But eyes will be on the vengeful Bolts who will be parading resident import Allen Durham for a third year in a row.

Interestingly, Meralco also got the boot from tormentor and eventual champion Gin Kings in the quarterfinals of the Commissioner’s Cup.

“He’s good. Allen’s been practicing with us for nine days already and he gonna get even better. Allen Durham is Allen Durham,” Black said on the back-to-back Governors’ Cup import.

“Of course, you’re always looking for championship. We had our chances and this is another chance. But for now, our focus is against Columbian Dyip.”

Durham will be joined by Chris Newsome, Baser Amer, Jared Dillinger and Cliff Hodge in the Bolts’ season-ending conference revenge bid.

Standing on their way is newcomer Akeem Wright of the Columbian Dyip which will be coached by new mentor John Cardel following Ricky Dandan’s resignation after a 4-7 record in the Commissioner’s Cup.