I was watching the game between the FedEx Express and the Talk and Text Phonepals yesterday. During the early stages of the game, the game was relatively close but as the second half opened, Talk and Text suddenly broke away. To add to the insult done to FedEx, the Phonepals were able to increase their lead without any of its three top players (Asi Taulave, Jimmy Alapag and Willie Miller) on the floor. It was gutsy players like Mark Telan, Vic Pablo, Yancey de Ocampo, Patrick Fran and Bong Ravena who staged a rally that somehow put the game out of reach from the Express.
Then I remember, Talk and Text won its first three games already and those they defeated before were not easy opponents. Noong Opening Day ng PBA Gran Matador Philippine Cup, San Miguel Beer lang naman nila Olsen Racela, Dondon Hontiveros, Nic Belasco, Dorian Peņa at Danny Ildefonso ang tinalo nila tapos ung second game nila, Alaska Aces lang naman din nila Mike Cortez, Don Allado, Brandon Cablay, Ali Peek at Bong Hawkins and nadali nila.
The first two teams that they defeated are title contenders but Talk and Text made it look so easy to defeat them. Now I wonder, just how great the Phonepals are?
Let's start with the coaching staff: Joel Banal lead the Ateneo Blue Eagles to the promised land in 2002 and as a player himself, he won numerous championships with Great Taste. Assistant Coach Aric del Rosario lead the UST Growling Tigers to four straight UAAP trophies during the nineties thanks to players such as Rey Evangelista, Dennis Espino, Chris Cantonjos, Bal David and Patrick Fran. Its other Assistant coach, Ariel Vanguardia, might not have any trophies to show but he showed his potential when he lead the Phonepals to a 5-1 record during Banal's absence. In terms of resume, the Talk and Text Coaching staff has one of the best.
On its player's side, the Phonepals boast one of the most balanced teams in the PBA today. Balance in the sense that it seems that it doesn't have any weakness in its five positions. Starting with its guards, they have Jimmy "Mighty Mouse" Alapag, a prolific scorer and slasher who can easily put up at least 15 points to his credit a game. Then you have Patrick Fran, one of the best defensive guards in the PBA and has a reliable 3-point shot. That's not all, they do have Felix "DonBal" Belano, also a deadshot in rainbow land and is also a certified speedster. It's offguard position is tremendous as well, oh no, should I say terrific. Who's in store? Willie Miller and Bong Ravena. Ever since his college days in Letran, Miller was already a certified scorer. With his acrobatic moves and his terific shooting, PBA teams were dying to have him on their roster. Yet, he chose to play for the Nueve Ecija Patriots in the MBA and he lead the said league in scoring in every season that he played. In conrast, as great as a player Miller is, the Patriots were one of the doormat teams of the MBA. Then he transferred to Red Bull in the PBA and he won MVP honors in 2003. On the other hand, Ravena won Rookie of the Year in 1992 and brings to Talk and Text the leadership he has develop when he played for teams like San Miguel, Purefoods and the Pasig Blue Pirates also in the MBA.
In terms of its frontcourt, the Phonepals can match or can even outmanuever the big guys of other teams. In their first three games, they dominated the boards by significant margins and the big boys of Talk and Text shot better both inside and outside. The star of the Phonepals' frontcourt of course is the Fil-Tongan (although his Fil blood is still in question) Paul Asi Taulava who lead all locals in scoring in the PBA Fiesta Conference. Then you have Vic Pablo who is also know to be a big time player (he isn't called "The Conqueror" for nothing). Next, you have Yancey de Ocampo who is a great acquisition from FedEx for he brings not only height but shooting accuracy from the perimeter as well and at 6'9", he is one of the more versatile players in the league.
Also in the team is the balik-Talk and Text Celedon "Don" Camaso who also has a claim in being the most versatile players in the PBA. He may not score an awful lot of points but its his hustle and tremendous energy that makes him a potent piece of the Talk and Text puzzle.
And last but not the least, Mark Clemence Telan. Telan has found a home with the Phoneoals but his already been know as a major contributor during his college days in La Salle and his stints with the PBL and with Tanduay and Shell in the PBA. Yet, in the first three games of the Phonepals, it is like Mark Telan was reborn. He ran the hardwood better, shot better, rebounded better and thought better. In chort, Telan improved significantly. He has his numbers to show: average of about 19 points a contest in their first three games is proof enough (considering his about 12 a game before). He has been a revelation so far and credit that to the Talk and Text management who invested so much on Telan that they brought him with Taulava to a basketball clinic in the United States.
Allow me to also mention the two remaining players in the Talk and Text Roster. They may not be used often but they sure are great ballers. Who are they? Rookie Niņo Gelig and Allan Salangsang. Galig is one of the key players of the UST Growling Tigers during the late nineties and he won one (hope i'm right0 of the four straight crowns of the Espaņa-based team. He shared the hardwood with Cyrus Baguio who is now with Red Bull and the two of them played together in the Hapee Toothpaste Teeth Sparklers team in the PBL. On the other hand, Salangsang was also part of the Hapee team and is one of the leading scorers of that team.
Up to its twelfth man, the Talk and Text Phonepals seems to be a well oiled machine going into the PBA Philippine Cup. They sure are one of the top contenders in this conference and they have shown their worth in their first three games. Without injuries among its players, I think they will be the team to beat in this conference. I guess the only thing that can defeat them is ala-Bal David's buzzer beater during the Ginebra-Mobiline (now TnT) scrimmage during the quarterfinals of the McDonald's-PBA All Filipino Cup back in 2000. I would love to see Taulava cry like that again. But I guess with a formidable squad beside him (as if that mobiline team was not formidable enough with Andy Seigle and Jeff Cariaso) , it would take a long time until I see him burst into tears of sorrow of course.
