Texters kick off semis campaign against streaking Aces

Talk 'N Text will make sure all bases are covered in its quest for a rare PBA Grand Slam in the Governors Cup. The Tropang Texters, as the semifinals of the season-ending conference kicks off Friday at the Araneta Coliseum, will be parading a new import when they face with the streaking Alaska Aces in the first game of a weekend doubleheader. Talk 'N Text enters the top-seeded team in the carry-over semis round with a 6-2 slate, capped by a 145-116 pounding of hapless Air21 Express in their final game in the eliminations. But that didn't prevent the Texters to replace Maurice Baker with Scottie Reynolds midstream in an obvious effort to win a third straight championship and complete a historic Grand Slam. Reynolds, a product of Villanova College and played for the Springfield Armor in the NBA D-League, is expected to get his baptism of fire right on his debut game on Philippine soil as the Texters will be facing the Aces, currently the hottest team in the tournament. Coach Tim Cone and his team are currently in second place, tied with Barangay Ginebra and Petron at 5-2. But the Aces are on a roll having won their last three games, including an 83-79 beating of the Kings last Sunday. Talk 'N Text mentor Chot Reyes sees a formidable game at hand for his team. "Very difficult test. Alaska is the hottest team and we've been struggling. We have to raise the level of our game to compete." A victory by the Aces will create a two-way tie for the lead. B-MEG faces skidding Rain or Shine in the 7:30 p.m. main game that will have the Llamados similarly bringing in a new reinforcement in Myron Allen. Standing just a shade below 6-feet, Allen is taking over the place of Darnell Hinson, who went back to the U.S. to attend a custody hearing case filed by his estranged against him. Allen had previous playing stints in Mexico and China. "I just hope that he can adjust well to our system," said B-MEG coach Jorge Gallent of his new import. "Against Rain or Shine, we need to ride the momentum of that big win against Air21 and do the things that we did right in that game. We must see to it that we share the ball more." Likewise, B-MEG reinforced its backcourt by acquiring Josh Urbiztondo from the unrestricted free agent list. Air21 made the tough-playing guard an unrestricted free agent before the elimination phase ended. Both the Llamados and Elasto Painters go into the match both carrying the worst records among the semifinalists with an even 4-4 (win-loss) slates. The Elasto Painters lost their last two outings going into the semis, including a 98-90 setback at the hands of Ginebra Wednesday. - JVP, GMA News