Texters nail first win, drub Road Warriors

Game Saturday (Lucena City)

5 p.m. – Ginebra vs Kia

Games Sunday (Smart Araneta Coliseum

3 p.m. – Barako Bull vs Globalport

5:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs Purefoods

MANILA, Philippines – Talk n Text, starting the season flat versus Barangay Ginebra at the Philippine Arena Sunday, cranked up against NLEX Friday night, nailing a first win in the 2014-15 PBA Philippine Cup with a 103-81 tripping of the Road Warriors at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters made a big turnaround from their 20-point blowout by the Kings, utterly dominating the Road Warriors in handing Jong Uichico his initial win as TnT head coach.

“We’re still in adjustment period. I’m adjusting to the players, and the players are adjusting to me as well. Hopefully, we hit it off as soon as possible,” said Uichico, a seven-time champion coach with San Miguel Beer and twice with Barangay Ginebra.

“It’s good we win now, and we can look at the positive that it can bring,” Uichico also said.

Uichico said they still have some things to work on as he’s incorporating the systems of coaches Norman Black, Chot Reyes and his own.

“Coach Norman has a different system. I’m bringing back the offense of coach Chot as the players are more comfortable with it,” Uichico pointed out.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra and newcomer Kia, winners in the season inaugurals double-header, dispute the early solo lead in the season-opening tourney as they face off in the kickoff leg of the Petron Blaze PBA on Tour series at 5 p.m. today in Lucena City.

Jay Washington, groping for form all night in his TnT return Sunday, got into the groove against NLEX, delivering a double-double game with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Kelly Williams, Jayson Castro and rookie Matt Ganuelas contributed at least 13 points each as the Texters foiled the Road Warriors’ bid to make it two in a row following a 101-96 topping of the Globalport Batang Pier Tuesday.

Playing limited minutes, Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Ranidel de Ocampo snared two defensive rebounds, becoming only the 44th player to hit a total of 2,000 defensive caroms.

Washington sizzled with 5-of-11 triples and the whole TnT squad frolicked with a 43-percent three-point shooting as they gave Boyet Fernandez a rude welcome in his return as PBA coach.

The Road Warriors debuted in the pro league triumphantly with assistant coach Adonis Tierra in the saddle. Fernandez was still barred from coaching the team then as he’s still with San Beda in the NCAA finals.

With 10 unanswered points from Williams and Washington, the Tropang Texters pulled away at 67-47 and coasted to victory.

Asi Taulava, firing away a game-high 21 points against Globalport, was held to 12 markers by the Texters.