Games today:
Araneta Coliseum
5:15 p.m.- Air21 vs. Brgy. Ginebra
7:30 p.m.- Meralco vs. Talk ’N Text
Still reeling from a championship loss, the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters plunge back to action when they face sister-team Meralco Bolts today in the main game of the newly opened 37th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Texters only had a few days of rest and it remains to be seen if they already have the legs to compete following a grueling championship series in the previous conference, where they lost to the B-Meg Llamados in their best-of-seven affair, 4-3.
Talk ’N Text’s bid for redemption will rely on import Paul Harris, the same reinforcement who led the Texters to the Commissioner’s Cup title last season.
Aside from fatigue, the Texters also have health issues to deal with as Ryan Reyes, Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams were hurt in their title series against the Llamados.
Harris will go up against fellow returning import Champ Oguchi, who was hired by the Bolts to replace original choice Juan Patillo. Patillo was sent home after he was measured above the six-foot-five height limit for imports.
Oguchi played for Meralco in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup, where he averaged 28.3 points and 10.3 rebounds a game.
The first game will have the Air21 Express taking on the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
The Express will be led by Zach Graham, while Cedric Bozeman will spearhead the Kings. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA