System under maintenance

Teams are actually OUTWORKING the Texters
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

It's tough being the Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters these days.

Lend your core players and staff for flag and country, try to create a stop-gap in the PBA by bringing in some young talent and a high-scoring import in Tony Mitchell, then have them all come back together to try and make another playoffs push as is the Texters norm the last three years.

Except, instead of a power surge that would lead to productivity in all fronts, the Texters overall system came crashing down on their way to the bottom of the PBA Governor's Cup standings.

Mitchell's the right import for a team of role players (which the Texters clearly were to start the conference despite the presence of Gilas players Jayson Castro and Larry Fonacier). But once they were joined by captain Jimmy Alapag and ace post player Ranidel de Ocampo-- well, Mitchell's ball-stopping ways just wasn't the right fit (he's been sent home as of yesterday we believe).

But don't be fooled here, we're not saying that the problem was the Texters' offense-- it's not as easy as that. It's also on the defensive end where the Texters have been, well, un-Texters-like. They've given up over 100 points in six out of their seven assignments.

Let that sit for a moment.

The Texters, unable to shackle teams from scoring over the century mark. Under head coach Norman Black. With defensive aces Larry Fonacier, Ryan Reyes and even Castro and De Ocampo at the helm. With Ali Peek protecting the paint.

Mind-boggling really.

But it's not as surprising as most would think. No, it's more like history simply repeating itself. Players are tired, it's the human facet of the game. In 1998, the Alaska Milkmen were called upon to represent the country while being in the middle of a rare repeat of their 1996 grand slam feat. True enough, the national team achieved greatness while the Milkmen came undone without their stars and coaches.

More or less, same banana.

So yeah, don't count the Texters out just yet. This conference has been tough, and they're probably and most likely out of the playoff hunt, but that doesn't mean they're a bad team or that drastic changes need to be made.

They have the Gilas 4 on that team, and Rabeh Al Hussaini's been rounding out to become the more offensively potent version of Petron's bruising rebounder Doug Kramer (who is his fellow Atenean). They were able to bring in the much-improved/ seasoned Jai Reyes and another energy guy in that Kelly Williams-relentless mold in Sean Anthony.

Yep, solid core still that got younger in the off-season.

Please excuse them while they undergo some much needed system maintenance.