Cebuano hoop fans are set to witness another swashbuckling hardcourt action as the Talk N Txt Phone Pals of the Philippine Basketball Association will clash with the multi-titled M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Jewelers at 7 pm on Thursday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Although just a goodwill encounter, the Talk N Txt-M. Lhuillier battle is expected to be highly competitive. The Phone Pals will protect their lofty stature as one of the PBA’s top teams, while the Jewelers will fight for pride being the undisputed king in the local cagedom.
Several other exciting features make the match worth watching for. First and foremost, this would be the first time that brothers Chot and Mike Reyes will confront each other on the different sides of the court.
Chot will call the shots for Talk N Txt, while Mike is one of the trusted lieutenants of coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba at the M. Lhuillier bench.
The game also marks the return of Tonichi Yturri in a coaching tour of duty in Cebu. Yturri, one of Chot’s assistants, once served as the chief bench tactician of the Cebu Gems in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).
Also, the Cebuanos will again have a glimpse of one of their favorite idols in Talk N Txt playmaker Felix “The Cat” Belano, Jr. The former University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancer is one of the brightest pointguards that Cebu collegiate league had ever produced.
For the record, Belano is the first and only Filipino cager so far to complete a quadruple-double in a single game. That is precisely the reason why he is sporting No. 42 in his jersey. He accomplished the rare feat when he still played for the Davao Eagles in the MBA.In their upcoming Cebu sojourn, Belano will play alongside Jimmy Alapag, Mark Cardona, Kalani Ferreria, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Patrick Fran, and Ernesto Billones.
Completing the Talk ‘N Txt roster are Harvey Carey, Jay Washington, Yousif Aljamal, Yancy de Ocampo, Don Allado, Ali Peek, and Migs Noble.
The Jewelers, on the other hand, will count the most from ex-pros Stephen Padilla, Bruce Dacia, Marlon Basco, Dale Singson, Leo Bat-og, and Danny Aying. For them to win, they need to draw huge support from Woodrow Enriquez, Ronald Capati, Jayford Rodriguez, and Gerry Cavan.
The Phone Pals are the odds-on favorite, but they must bear in mind that the Jewelers are capable of pulling a major surprise against a heavyweight opposition. Two years ago, M. Lhuillier humiliated the Sta. Lucia Realtors then coached by Alfrancis Chua.
Presented by BAP-Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas under the leadership of its president Manny V. Pangilinan in partnership with BAP-SBP Visayas Area Head Michel J. Lhuillier, the Talk N Txt-M. Lhuillier tiff is one of the highlights of Cebu City’s annual Charter Day celebration.
Tickets are reasonably priced at P20 for general admission, P50 for upper box, P100 for lower box, and P200 for ringside.