Belasco boosts Texters’ Philippine Cup title defense bid

Talk ‘N Text hopes to become the first team in the past 24 years to successfully defend a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Filipino crown since Great Taste did the trick in 1985. The Tropang Texters boosted their chances by adding dependable big man Nic Belasco in a three-player trade that was completed Thursday. The 6-foot-7 PBA journeyman was shipped to the Tropang Texters – his fifth team in the league – in a trade involving the hardworking Larry Rodriguez going to the Coca-Cola Tigers while the seldom-used Rob Reyes being shipped to the Burger King Whopper. Talks about the three-player deal started as early as the 2009 PBA Annual Rookie Draft but was only completed Thursday as Talk ‘N Text asked for more time to decide who to unload from its current line-up. TNT then chose Reyes, a promising player who spent most of his time on the bench. Talk ‘N Text became the biggest beneficiary of the trade after getting the 12-year veteran Belasco, who strengthened the Texters’ chances of repeating as Philippine Cup champions. Belasco is rich with championship experience after winning six titles with San Miguel and one with Alaska. Belasco’s inclusion will certainly add depth to the Tropang Texters’ frontline rotation. He will be reunited with former frontline partner Ali Peek. The other frontliners on the squad include national team standout Ranidel De Ocampo, Harvey Carey and Yousif Aljamal. The Tropang Texters are still currently negotiating with 6-foot-9 slotman Yancy de Ocampo, whose contract expired last month. “We’re talking to him and I believe we will be able to sign him up," Talk ‘N Text board representative Ricky Vargas said. For the Tigers, getting Rodriguez is one step towards rebuilding their future. For the Whopper, acquiring Reyes gives them an additional player that could give them multiple options. Whether the Whopper would keep Reyes or use him as part of another possible trade transaction remains to be seen. Burger King is planning to unload two more players.