Texters search for title form; Derek Fisher to join NBA stars here

MANILA—Talk N’ Text is still way off championship form and coach Chot Reyes couldn’t exactly figure out why.

Perhaps Reyes could pinpoint the cause when the Tropang Texters close out their elimination stint in the PBA Governors Cup against the Air21 Express Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

“We really haven’t played our usual game,” said Reyes after his Tropang Texters escaped with a come-from-behind 93-91 win over the Meralco Bolts.

The Texters, who are seeking a rare grand slam this season after capturing the pro league’s first two conferences, trailed the Bolts throughout before guard Jason Castro came through with an assortment of baskets, including the game-winning 18-footer with 2.5 seconds left.

“I don’t know if it’s fatigue, the absence of Jimmy (Alapag) or our import. But I’m sure that we’re not playing the way we should,” said Reyes.

Alapag, TNT’s court general and Finals MVP of the import-laced Commissioner’s Cup, sprained his right ankle against Alaska on June 15 and should be ready to return to duty in the semifinals.

Aside from playing two full conferences during their title runs, the Tropang Texters were also exhausted after games in Dubai and Digos City the previous weeks, while Maurice Baker hasn’t been the explosive import the Texters had hoped for.

Still, TNT is already in the semifinals and has been installed as the new leader with five wins and a pair of setbacks after Powerade churned out a victory Friday that knocked Petron Blaze (5-3) off the perch.

Photo by AP

Petron, TNT, Barangay Ginebra, Rain Or Shine, Alaska and B-Meg Derby make the six-team semifinal cast. The Express (0-7) are out of the running along with the Tigers

(3-4) and the Bolts (3-4).

Each qualifier will play a single-round playoff against the other semifinal teams, after which the two with the best win-loss mark advance to the finals.

Winning four of five games in the semis entitles a team for a finals’ playoff berth regardless of its record.

In another development, Reyes announced in his twitter yesterday that Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers will be in town to play in the charity games against the PBA All-Stars and the Smart Gilas national team on July 23 and 24 at the Big Dome.

Reyes said Fisher, who won five championships with the Lakers along with Kobe Bryant, confirmed his participation and will team up with Bryant,

of the New Orleans Hornets and other NBA stars in the “Ultimate All-Star Weekend” organized by MVP Sports Foundation.