Tropang Texters need rest, and then they’ll be ready
MANILA, Philippines—An outright ride to the semifinals will be nothing but a welcome reprieve for Talk N’ Text.
With four straight trip to the finals taking its toll on almost everyone in the Texters’ line up, escaping the grind-out quarterfinals series is what the squad needs.
“Anybody who tells you that the break is a disadvantage is lying,” Reyes told INQUIRER.net. “Everyone wants to die [just] to get that top two spot.”
Rust used to be an issue when waiting for your next opponent—practices or tune ups can never mimic the intensity of the real game.
For Talk N’ Text, though, it has always been rest that’s a the biggest issue—what with the myraid injuries along the way in the last two seasons.
“There’s no secret the things that have been troubling us in the past couple of conferences has been our injuries—we play too many games,” said Reyes.
With guys like Jimmy Alapag, Rich Alvarez, Kelly Williams, and Ranidel De Ocampo among others already healed from last conference’s wounds—guys like Jared Dillinger, Ryan Reyes and Jason Castro continue to try to make it back to tiptop shape.
Peek, who fully recovered from the shooting incident in time to help Talk N’ Text reign in the league anew, suffered a left hand fracture and will be sidelined for three weeks.
“We don’t really have anyone with a major injury [aside from Peek], but it’s these little nagging injuries that’s preventing them from being hundred percent,” shared Reyes.
On top of the ailing line-up, one of Reyes’ concerns is an import who was brought in to the team in the middle of the season.
“It takes a while to get used to our system because you have to know the players here,” said Reyes.
But import Donell Harvey didn’t seem to have a hard time shining on his own as he helped the Texters boot out Rain or Shine last Saturday, 102-90, even without Reyes in the sidelines.
Harvey went off with a 32-point explosion, along with 16 rebounds.
Resilliency has always been the Texters’ most striking characteristic, and with the playoffs coming up, Reyes says his team is ready to face whoever lands in front of them.
“I cannot answer that question [on who we want to face next]. Whoever it is that you don’t mention is going to get upset and is going to want to beat you to death,” said Reyes. “It doesn’t matter, we’ll play.”
