Texters mercifully euthanize Aces

Instant classic: Alapag vs Tenorio

In an out-of-town game that featured ugly, long dry spells for both squads, the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters were able to accomplish two things: keep their Governor's Cup title hopes alive AND take the hapless, lethargic and downright pitiful Alaska Aces out of their misery.

Proving that they are not yet done and are bent on giving sure fire future Hall of Fame coach Chot Reyes a nice sendoff (he's off to man the SMART Gilas Pilipinas program full time and turn the team over to Ateneo coach Norman Black by next season), the Texters regrouped from a slow first quarter and just took the air out of the Aces the rest of the evening.


The lone bright spot other than import Jason Forte was little used rookie Mac Baracael who finished with 20 points which should tell the coaching staff that hey, this guy made the Gilas team for a reason for Pete's sake. Why former coach Joel Banal and current "interim" coach Luigi went to other guys in their rotation is beyond this writer really.

It should also be noted that though L.A. Tenorio has a heart of a champion and plays like an elite level PG, he pretty much threw in the towel on the Aces' season with his awful display. ZERO points for your lead guy? We all saw the game, he wasn't injured, he was just not looking to create as he usually does.

Can't blame him though. When you're a great PG stuck on a bad team wherein no one wants the ball at any point of the game, then you're bound to just sulk and wrap it up.

For Aces fans, we hope that they get an actual, SEASONED, WINNING coach next conference and realize that they can't run the Triangle Offense without the one guy who lives and breathes it (B-Meg's Tim Cone). Develop your own identity based on the talent that you have (they have a great PG in Tenorio, solid wings in Baracael and Tony de la Cruz and cornerstone Sonny Thoss) and stop looking for an easy exit.

On the other side of things, the Texters are pretty much everything a coach would want from a basketball team. They're able to play either slow or fast, are always willing to sacrifice their body for the 50-50 plays and are always looking to run teams right out of the gym.

Coach Chot has the enviable luxury of simply closing his eyes and randomly pointing at any five guys on his active roster and they'd still win by at least 10 points-- that's how loaded they are. Today it was import Paul Harris (whose rebounding game makes him a better import than rumored replacement, "get buckets" Anthony Johnson), Larry Fonacier and some Ranidel de Ocampo.

The only person who gets on my nerves really, and only because I'm nitpicking here and frustrated with his overall potential, is Japeth Aguilar. We know you're athletic. We know you can shoot Js. Stop trying to play like an idiot and pull it all together. Be the best Filipino big man today. Our friendly advice, watch Chris Bosh tapes and breakdown film. You're built like him, you shoot a little like him and yes, you have that "I want to be a superstar" mentality as well. Just stitch those different skillsets together and quit trying to simply outjump guys.

You're 6"9 Japeth. You only need to reach out your hands to get rebounds and block shots. Shoot Js all you want, just slow down.