Ababou eyes elusive PBA title with Texters

MANILA, Philippines – Forward Dylan Ababou hopes his latest team switch from Barako Bull to Talk ‘N Text would lead to championships even as he looks forward to learning from the team’s established stars led by Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo.

The 6-foot-2 Ababou, who only played a total of 93 games in his first four years in the PBA due to injuries, was shipped by Barako Bull to Talk ‘N Text in exchange for the Energy’s 2016 second-round draft pick.

“Kahapon (Thursday), bale si coach Jong, pina-welcome niya lang ako sa team. Pero sobrang excited ako, lalo na at di pa ako nagcha-champion sa PBA kaya malaking opportunity ito sa akin na makasama sa isang champion team,” Ababou told Philstar.com on Friday.

A former University of Santo Tomas 3-point shooter, Ababou explained that his immediate goal is to continue working on his perimeter game and individual defense so he can provide the solid support to Castro and De Ocampo.

“Sila Ranidel at Jayson ang mga veterans ng team. Sila ang mga best players sa country natin and in Asia,” he said.

“Si Jayson, deserving maglaro talaga sa NBA dahil sa nilalaro niya kaya I hope, maka-contribute ako sa three-point shooting and defense,” added the 11th overall pick of Barako Bull in the 2011 PBA Rookie Draft.

The 28-year-old Ababou averaged 6.09 points, while shooting a high 52.2 percent from three-point country during the Governors Cup last season as a backup wingman for Barako Bull coach Koy Banal.

Ababou, the 2009 UAAP MVP, is expected to split time with veteran shooter Larry Fonacier at the wing position as he tries to provide more scoring punch for the rebuilding Talk ‘N Text quintet.

His move to the Talk ‘N Text franchise is also some sort of a homecoming since Ababou was part of the original Smart-Gilas national team that placed fourth in the 2011 FIBA Asia men’s championships in Wuhan, China.