Taulava eager to clash with former PBA team

The date: Jan.16. The venue: Cuneta Astrodome. On this day takes place one of the most highly-anticipated matchups in the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup. Asi Taulava and his Coca-Cola Tigers clash with the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals two weeks from now, marking the very first time the two ballclubs will be meeting since that blockbuster trade involving the mammoth Fil-Tongan and muscular big man Ali Peek along with Coke’s first round pick in the 2008 Rookie Draft. Both teams actually have two scheduled games to play prior to D-Day, but this early, excitement has already began to build up for the much awaited showdown. And the 6-foot-9 Taulava is among those really looking forward to it. The 34-year-old big man has never concealed his dissatisfaction with the trade that formally ended his eight-year association with Talk ‘N Text, the team with whom he won his first ever league championship, bagged a Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy and stayed with him through the good times and bad. Following that Nov. 28 deal, Taulava has been playing with the ferocity of a wounded Tiger. So far in all seven games he played for his new team, the Coca-Cola center finished in double figures both in points and rebounds to average 15.4 markers (7th overall) and a league-best 14.8 rebounds before the season-opening conference took a week-long break for the holiday season. He even registered a season’s best 26 rebounds in a thrilling 84-82 Coca-Cola win over the Barangay Ginebra Kings, matching the same personal record he turned in while still playing for Talk ‘N Text in a 104-92 rout of Formula Shell in March 26, 2003. A resurgent Taulava admitted getting challenged by the prospect of having to prove himself again. “I feel young again," said the Tiger’s star center. “I thought I was about to retire in the next two years. But now, I feel like I’m starting all over again." Since trading for Taulava, the Tigers went 5-2, including five wins in a row, to move out of the cellar (1-7) and land at eight spot (6-9), well within reach of gaining a berth in the wild card phase. To its credit, Talk ‘N Text is not faring bad either since trading away their resident frontcourt man. The Phone Pals won three of their last five outings for an 8-7 record, good enough to be in the middle of the standings and on track of advancing into the quarterfinals. - Sun.Star