Tropang Texters plan to fire erring import

MANILA, Philippines - Chances are Talk n Text will play with an all-Filipino crew when the Tropang Texters go up against the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Wade had upset the Talk n Text team management after he had an oncourt altercation with coach Chot Reyes during their match with San Miguel Beer Wednesday and later was seen going after referee Throngy Aldaba

The Talk n Text import was fined P30,000 by the PBA Commissioner’s Office yesterday for his misconduct against the game official. The TnT management, at presstime, was contemplaying on sending him home.

Talk n Text appeared ready to sack Wade even with the Tropang Texters set to play the Kings in a crucial game at 7:30 p.m. today.

Apparently, the team management has contacted Smart Gilas team official Noli Eala to look for prospective import who can replace Wade. Eala is currently with the Smart Gilas team training in the United States.

Talk n Text’s original choice is Rashad Bell, but the former Coca-Cola import could only fly in at the earliest on May 7.

Against Ginebra, the Tropang Texters will have to contend with David Noel, playing his second game with the Kings, fresh from a remarkable stint in the PBA All-Star Week.

Meanwhile, Burger King found Barako Bull a tough nut to crack in their rematch but prevailed just the same, pulling off a 99-89 decision last night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Gary David and Arwind Santos teamed up in a decisive 12-0 run entering the homestretch, enabling the Whoppers to eventually fend off the Energy Boosters’ challenge.

Repeating their 123-110 rout of the Energy Boosters in their previous tiff, the Whoppers hit the .500 mark again with a fifth win against the same number of losses.

Burger King caught up with Rain or Shine at fifth place while Barako Bull slid deeper down the cellar with a fourth straight defeat and eighth in 10 games overall.

The Whoppers checked their three-game skid with David and Santos coming through with sterling performances, fresh from their stints in the mid-season All-Star spectacle.

David tossed in a game-high 30 points with Santos adding 22.

The two personally clinched the BK victory as they fired six apiece in a 12-to-nothing roll that had the team breaking loose from an 87-85 edge.

Carlo Sharma put in 20 points, keeping Barako Bull in the thick of the fight through the first 43 minutes of play.