Texters-Tigers grudge match kicks off RP Cup

Talk n Text and Coca-Cola, two teams which dished out highly emotional games following the trade involving Asi Taulava and Ali Peek last season, clash in a grudge match in the opening day of the 34th PBA season at the Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Tropang Texters and the Tigers slug it out at 6:30 p.m. after the inaugural rites highlighted by the traditional parade of teams with their respective muses.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney is the special guest of honor and will do the ceremonial toss in the kick-off game of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup.

Taulava, who spent the first eight years of his pro career with Talk n Text, said he has hired a personal nutritionist to trim down to 260 pounds, and is looking forward to their game against his former team.

“It’s a grudge match,” said Taulava, who led Coca-Cola in dealing Talk n Text bitter losses last season after the trade.

The Tropang Texters will showcase their roster beefed up by talented rookies Jared Dillinger, Jason Castro, Rob Reyes and Pong Escobal.

Hardly changing his own lineup, Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis said they have a job cut out for them against the Tropang Texters.

“They’ve got prized acquisitions who’ll be major players in the league in the near future. Add them to the existing talents, and Talk n Text has become a talent-laden team,” said Favis.

“Another thing is that we don’t know what to expect from them. They didn’t play in the pre-season tourney as they trained abroad,” Favis added.

Favis kept the core of his team intact, signing two minor recruits in free agents Froilan Baguion and Lawrence Bonus. Former MVP awardee Kenneth Duremdes is kept on the reserve list.

At Talk n Text, coach Chot Reyes also has in his disposal old reliables Jimmy Alapag, Harvey Carey, Macmac Cardona, Renren Ritualo, Yancy de Ocampo, Don Allado and Yousif Aljamal.

They begged off from the pre-season tourney and trained in Italy.

Coca-Cola lost its two games in the pre-season to Red Bull and San Miguel. The Tigers also dropped a tune-up match with the visiting KT&G team from Korea.

“We’ll see how far our defense and hard work can bring us. We may be able to pull off some surprise,” said Favis.

Talk n Text (0.487) and Coca-Cola (0.465) are ranked eighth and ninth, respectively, in terms of win-loss percentage.

The Tigers finished sixth in the Philippine Cup and fifth in the Fiesta Conference while the Pals wound up eighth in the All-Filipino and seventh in the import-reinforced tourney.