Bong Alvarez one big reason Talk N Text has gone this far

If it weren’t for the cold, Bong Alvarez swears he still would be in Korea right now, minding, literally, his business.

"Eh bumaba sa kuwatro (degrees) dun sa Korea. Ang lamig, kaya gusto ko na rin umuwi," said the 6-0 swingman known to pack helium in his legs.

Oh, and yes, there was that other reason.

"Tinawagan ako ni Boss Frankie (Lim, Talk ‘n Text team manager), tinatanong kung gusto kong maglaro," he recounted. Of course, that was just like asking a cow if it likes to eat grass.

And even if he was offered a measly P50,000 a month to come home and play, he gladly took it.

"Eh sa Dasmariñas nga, nagbabayad tayo ng P150 para lang makilaro. Eh dito, babayaran ka pa. Siyempre tinanggap ko na," said Alvarez.

The decision proved wise. For Talk ‘n Text.

In the span of Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, Alvarez submitted his finest performance as a Phone Pal and won the Selecta Player of the Week citation.

His addition to the Talk ‘n Text roster has added depth to the team which is looking for its first semifinal appearance in the Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino Cup since the playoff years.

Except for one or two games. Alvarez was hardly a factor for the team. In fact, many were surprised Sunday when he was inserted into the starting unit for the first time in a Talk ‘n Text uniform against Ginebra at the Araneta Coliseum.

But whatever he did in practice to merit the start certainly spilled over to the floor.

He scored 13 points in the first half and it was all over by then as Talk ‘n Text took a 47-31 halftime lead.

He finished with 23 points, five rebounds and four assists in a 26-minute error-free performance that was a throwback to the years when he dominated the league.

The win gave Talk ‘n Text the No. 4 position and the right to face Alaska in a knockout quarterfinal match.

Moreover, his performance was described as a million-dollar performance by a man paid a fraction of that.

"Ang sa akin, sana makapasok ang Talk ‘n Text sa semifinals. Alam ko kasi, hindi pa nakakapasok sa semis ang team sa All-Filipino. Yun lang muna goal ko tapos tingnan natin kung ano ang mangyayari next year," said Alvarez, who is proving to be worth his contract...and more.