Texters open title defense sans import

MANILA, Philippines – With temperamental import Ivan Johnson out on suspension, the TNT Tropang Texters face a tough task as they start their title defense in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup against the Blackwater Elite at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

Arinze Onuaku, meanwhile, will be barely introduced to his Meralco teammates when they take on the Star Hotshots in the other game kicking off the mid-season tournament.

The Tropang Texters and the Elite, playing a tune-up match a few days back marred by a fracas involving Johnson, clash at 4:15 p.m., then the Bolts and the Hotshots face off at 7 p.m.

The league actually ushered in the import-laced tourney with the Tag Heuer PBA Kick-Off Party at Prive Luxury Club at The Fort Strip in Bonifacio Global City.

The 12 teams figure in a one-round-robin elimination play with the top eight advancing to the playoffs. Then it’s No. 1 versus No. 8, No. 2 against No. 7, No. 3 opposite No. 6, and No. 4 versus No. 5 in the quarterfinals. The top two teams in the elims enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters. The four middle teams figure in a best-of-three quarters series.

For shoving JP Erram in the face then punching Frank Golla, the TNT import was meted a game suspension against the Elite themselves. Johnson was also fined P50,000.

The Elite will parade import MJ Rhett as they begin a chase for a second straight playoff appearance in pro play. Blackwater had a mini-breakthrough in the Philippine Cup, beating out Meralco and Mahindra for the last berth in the quarterfinals.

A South Carolina native, Rhett is a 23-year-old, 6-foot-9 center/forward who played college ball for Tennessee State then Mississippi before bringing his stuffs in the Baltic league.

TNT rookie centers Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario will have a work cut out for them as they man the slot in the absence of Johnson.

Meanwhile, Onuaku was only set to arrive yesterday although the Bolts vowed to come out fighting against the Hotshots, raring to atone for their woeful finish in the recent Philippine Cup.

“The team has been working hard so that we can get off to a good start. But we had a recent setback when our (original) import (Malcom Thomas) hurt his right knee and was ruled out to play,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.

“Despite the lack of preparation with Arinze, we will be out there fighting,” Black added.

With health woes and tough breaks, the Bolts finished dead last in the recent Philippine Cup with only a single win against 10 losses. Six of those defeats, however, were only by four points or less.

And, curiously, the Bolts’ lone win came at the expense of the Star Hotshots, 87-83.

The Hotshots are bringing back old champion import Denzel Bowles as they try to redeem themselves from their poor ninth-place finish in the last conference.

Expectations are high the Hotshots will improve on their second conference under coach Jason Webb.

“The talent in that team is there. Basically, it’s just a matter of getting used to their new coach and new system. Once they settle down, the ability and the potential of the team will come out. The first conference was just feeling out. They can now be judged on their true worth,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

A conference removed under the tutelage of Cone, the Hotshots barely made the playoff play last conference and didn’t go deep, eliminated by the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the quarters.