PBA: Texters battle Llamados; Kings, Express clash

Numbers are sometimes misleading. Talk N Text coach Chot Reyes knows it too well. “They (B-Meg Derby Ace) pushed San Miguel to the limit last time they met, so I don’t think the win-loss record of a team should be used in gauging their strength," said Reyes, referring to the Llamados. Reyes’ Tropang Texters will face the embattled defending champion Llamados in the first game of a PBA Philipine Cup double header on Friday at the Ataneta Coliseum. The game features two teams on the opposite end — one is currently regarded as one of the hottest teams in the league while the other one continues to struggle with its depleted lineup. The Tropang Texters and the Llamados collide at 5 p.m. right before the main game between the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and the Air21 Express at 7:30 p.m. A win by Talk N Text over Derby Ace will put the Tropang Texters in a share of the lead with idle San Miguel Beermen, who lead the pack with a 6-1 record. Reyes and his troop enjoy a big psychological advantage over the Llamados, whom they have beaten, 87-76, the first time they met last Oct. 6. The dedimated Llamados have lost all but one of their six games and are currently at the cellar. Still, Reyes refuse to entertain thoughts of an easy victory against the reigning All-Filipino champions, who were playing without injured forwards Kerby Raymundo, Marc Pingris and center Raffi Reavis right from the start of the season. But like the proud team that they were, the Llamados managed to compete and gave their opponents a big scare. Proof of that was their previous game against sister team San Miguel where they rallied back from 16 points down before dropping an 83-85 decision to the Beermen last Saturday. The Beermen had Alex Cabagnot to thank for as the lefty guard came up with a buzzer-beating reverse lay up to propel his team to victory. - Rey Joble, GMANews.TV