Texters keep robust form behind Larry

TALK ‘N Text is breathing down the necks of the leaders in the PBA Governors’ Cup despite a local core decimated by injuries following its classic seven-game conquest of Rain or Shine in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals late last month.

And one of the biggest reasons why the Tropang Texters have stayed afloat—even with injuries to superstars Jason Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo and flashy rookie Kevin Alas—is Larry Fonacier’s consistent play and winning attitude.

“He’s been very steady,” said coach Jong Uichico of Fonacier as the Texters gun for their third win in four games in the season-ending conference against NLEX on Tuesday at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

The 6-foot-2 swingman, known by such monickers as Lucky Larry and Iron Man, has won titles at every level of competition and championships with every PBA team he has played for.

The 33-year-old stalwart was part of a Red Bull squad that bagged a conference title in 2005 and an Alaska team that won the following year. He has been with four Talk ‘N Text championship sides.

His six career titles rank him tied for fourth among all active players in the PBA.

Fonacier has never been great at doing one thing, but has been very good at practically everything.

Proof of this was when he won the Finals MVP award in the 2012 Philippine Cup—the second of the historic three straight that Talk ‘N Text won—even without winning a single Player of the Game citation in the tournament.

In Talk ‘N Text’s star-studded lineup, Fonacier averages more than 30 minutes a contest this season—only Castro plays longer—and is the league’s leading free throw shooter at more than 88 percent.

“Larry’s a shooter, basically, but he has developed a defensive game,” Uichico said. “He’s playing a lot of minutes because we know he won’t get beaten defensively.”

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine plays the second of two straight games in Dubai today when the Elasto Painters battle crowd-darling Barangay Ginebra at Al Shabab Al Arabi Club.

That game is slated at 8 p.m. (12 midnight in Manila). The Elasto Painters were battling Globalport at press time.