Dubai, UAE
7 p.m.- Talk ‘N Text vs. B-Meg
WITH a new import in tow, the revitalized B-Meg Llamados hope to become the first team to beat the scorching Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in a lone out-of-the-country game today at the Al Shabab Sports Club in Dubai, UAE.
Confidence is pretty high for the Llamados following the arrival of the highly touted Darnell Hinson, whom B-Meg brought in to replace Stefhon Hannah.
“I was impressed. He’s a point guard who can also play two (off guard). He’s certainly much better than Stefhon Hannah,” said B-Meg coach Jorge Gallent of Hinson, who was measured at six-foot 5/16.
“He’s stocky so even when bumped, he can still go to the basket unlike Hannah,” added Gallent in a report posted on pba-online.net.
Gallent, whose team sports a 2-2 (win-loss) card in a four-way tie at fourth place with Petron, Alaska and Meralco, said defending the backourt players of the Texters will be crucial in the team’s bid for a second straight win.
“Guys like Jason Castro and Ryan Reyes anchor Talk ‘N Text’s game. They do a lot of things for their team,” said Gallent.
The grand slam-seeking Texters are the only unbeaten team in the tournament, leading the standings with a 3-0 (win-loss).
Beating Talk ‘N Text will be extra hard as Jimmy Alapag is already back in harness after sitting out a couple of games due to a foot injury.
After B-Meg, Talk ‘N Text will next play the Barangay Ginebra Kings the following the day.
“It’s an unbelievably tough schedule for us, coming off a tough out-of-town game,” said Talk N Text coach Chot Reyes, whose squad came from an 89-85 win over Powerade last Saturday in Digos City, Davao del Sur.
“We should find out a lot about ourselves in this trip,” said Reyes.