INQUIRER Sports
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BARANGAY GINEBRA AND TALK ?N TEXT slug it out in the main game of a double-header taking the lid off of the PBA Fiesta Conference Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Awvee Storey debuts for the Gin Kings, the champions here two seasons ago, while the Tropang Texters will be backstopped by burly Shawn Daniels, a low-scoring import who could prove to be the best fit for Talk ?N Text in the end.
Game time is 6:30 p.m.
?I?m excited because I have someone who is willing to do the dirty work,? Talk ?N Text coach Chot Reyes said a few days ago when they closed the deal with Daniels.
Barako Energy Coffee, with a stronger team to go with the new name, and Sta. Lucia Realty battle in the first game at 4 o? clock with the Coffee Masters unveiling Sam Monroe and the Realtors welcoming back Anthony Johnson.
San Miguel Beer, the defending champion, will be reinforced by Gabriel Freeman.
Ginebra has two new big men in the roster in Yancy de Ocampo and John Ferriols and coach Jong Uichico is looking forward to a fruitful campaign with his squad?s heart and soul?Mark Caguioa and reigning MVP Jayjay Helterbrand?again healthy.
The crowd-darling Gin Kings made it as far as the semifinals of the recent Philippine Cup but got swept by Alaska in their best-of-seven series.
But Caguioa and Helterbrand were still trying to get back to peak health then, aside from the fact that the Kings were lacking a reliable presence underneath with Eric Menk sidelined by yet another injury.
With De Ocampo and Ferriols around, Uichico has more big men at his disposal against the Texters, who are loaded with so many talented big men aside from the former Air21 import Daniels.
Ginebra won this tournament two years ago with a 7-foot import in Chris Alexander.
Although Storey is not a flashy player, the soft-spoken Uichico feels that he has the right man for the job.
With Helterbrand back, Uichico no longer has problems at the point. Ginebra shopped around for a point guard during the off-season but was unsuccessful in snagging Alex Cabagnot from Air21.
