Serbian experience toughens up Texters

MANILA, Philippines - The Talk n Text Tropang Texters are going through rugged no non-sense buildup abroad in a bid to get better as they embark on a title-retention campaign in the 2009-2010 PBA Philippine Cup, which opens next month.

Even as the Texters have yet to complete their series of exhibition games in Serbia, the team has already set a separate series in Korea after a brief rest at home in the third week of September.

At press time, coach Chot Reyes and his troops have played four games in Serbia, winning only one.

“The games we play here are extremely physical, in true European style. This will only help toughen our guys for the PBA. These are the games we need to keep improving,” said Reyes in an email message.

“Hopefully, we’re developing not only basketball confidence, but also mental and emotional toughness,” Reyes added.

For the record, no PBA team has yet to successfully defend the all-Filipino crown since Great Taste in 1984-85.

The Texters hope to rewrite history, looking to retain the crown with an intact core lineup beefed up by Nic Belasco.

Reyes believed they’re doing well in their Serbian training.

The Texters narrowly lost their first game to a tall Vijuc Metalac Valjevo team, 74-81, before nipping the KG Student club, 87-86. In their next two games, the Texters were clobbered by KK Crvena Zvezda, 60-92, then pummeled by OKK Belgrade, 89-102.

“Overall, I was quite pleased with our effort as we competed hard against a team with five players standing 6-foot-10 and above, that had beaten Smart Gilas by 30 points and the Ukrainian powerhouse KMYK team with two American imports by 24. We almost pulled off a win with jet lag and all,” said Reyes on their first game.

Reyes said they defended very well and worked efficiently on rebounding as they beat the KG team.

In their third game, Reyes said they were simply beaten by a good team.

Incidentally, Red Star lost to Partizan in the last Serbian finals. Both teams play in top levels of the Euroleague and ELEB.

“The encouraging part for me was that the boys fought hard and hit back in the second half,” said Reyes.

“We were well-scouted the past couple of games, after we nearly beat Metalac in in game one. The Red Star coach himself told me that he even spoke to the Metalac coach about us. There were scouts from four of the five teams we will play next, which means it will only get harder, and that’s good,” Reyes also said.