TNT coach mum on import’s skills

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters are a third of the way towards achieving the goal that eluded them so painfully last year. And with the Commissioner’s Cup raising its curtains tomorrow, the Texters are again installed the prohibitive favorites to win it all.

For coach Chot Reyes though, the middle conference of the league’s 37th season should be treated with extreme caution. After all, in a tournament spiced up with imports, reinforcements can either make or break a team.

“Going into the Commissioner’s Cup, we’re filled with cautious optimism because we will just start practicing on the 13th (of February) with no idea of how good our import is,” said Reyes in his statement to the press.

The Texters have not played together as a complete squad since they captured the Philippine Cup title, becoming the first squad in 27 years to defend the All-Filipino crown. The best-of-seven Finals ended last Jan. 29, with the Tropang Texters wildly celebrating at midcourt of the Big Dome in the din of their runaway, 110-101 Game 5 win, cementing their status as only the third team to win the All-Filipino tournament twice in a row, but only the first since Great Taste did it in 1984-85.

With the defending champions not making their debut until the 17th against sister-team Meralco at the Astrodome, the Tropang Texters had the benefit of a three-week break to sooth their aching bodies and rest tired muscles following the grueling season-opening campaign.

But at the same time, it didn’t give them any hint of how import Omar Hassan Samhan could play under the team’s system.

“Getting a good shot at winning the (Commissioner’s) Cup depends on how good your import is, and we won’t know how good he (Samhan) is until we start practicing with him. And we’ll just start practicing on the 13th,” said Carey, who, together with reigning MVP Jimmy Alapag, is just one of two Talk `N Text players included in all five championships the franchise has so far won.

Samhan is listed as 6-foot-11 and played for St. Mary’s College in California, the same school where Talk `N Text’s man-mountain Ali Peek came. Born in San Ramon, California, Samhan was named as First Team All-WCC as a senior and junior, WCC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, and is one of only two players in school history with 1,000 rebounds. He’s also ranked second in school history with 1,846 career points.

He played for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2010 NBA Summer League, but didn’t make the final roster that eventually won the NBA championship.