Can TnT seal 3-peat minus two key men?

Manila, Philippines - Hardly had the euphoria of their brilliant triumph in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup had sunk in when the victorious Talk n Text Tropang Texters found themselves with a dilemma involving their quest for the coveted grand slam in the league.

After clinching a second straight championship by beating Barangay Ginebra, 99-96, Sunday, Talk n Text now faces a major decision of loaning key stalwarts Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams to the national team at the expense of the franchise’s bid for Triple Crown.

“At least, it’s a good problem. We have to talk about it,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

“I don’t know the answer because I don’t know what’s their (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) arrangement with the PBA. If I would have my way, of course I would want them to play for Talk n Text and the national team,” Reyes added.

The question is whether Talk n Text will loan Alapag and Williams to Smart Gilas right away or pursue its grand slam bid first before releasing the two players to the national team.

“The request is for Jimmy and Kelly to join Smart Gilas by the second week of June. We play our first two games in the third conference in Dubai on June 2 and 3, and Jimmy and Kelly want to be part of it. How can we say no,” said Reyes.

Alapag said it’s an honor to play for the national team but he also wants to help Talk n Text achieve the grand slam.

“I have to talk to the management and see how it goes. It’s a good opportunity for our team to win a grand slam. We’ll see what happens,” said Alapag.

Asi Taulava and Dondon Hontiveros are two other pros tapped to reinforce Smart Gilas for the Fiba Asia men’s championship in Wuhan, China in September.

Reyes said it would be very difficult for them to win the grand slam minus Alapag and Williams.

“We can cover Jimmy’s playmaking chores by tapping an import who plays the point. But will miss Jimmy’s leadership. Kelly’s spot will be hard to fill. As it is, we’re small. We’ll only get smaller minus Kelly,” said Reyes.

Picking up from where they left off in the Philippine Cup, the Texters made a dominating run to rule the Commissioner’s Cup.

The Texters beat the Ginebra Kings, 4-2, in their best-of-seven title series and wound up with a 15-3 win-loss overall record – the best by any team in a tourney since Crispa logged a 20-1 mark in its 1980 All-Filipino title conquest.

“We’re close to making it 15-1,” said Reyes recalling Alapag’s missed three-point attempt in the closing seconds of Game Two.

NOTES: Smart-PLDT top bosses Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas, and coach Chot Reyes leave for a business trip to San Francisco, California Thursday. With Sacramento an hour away, Pangilinan might find time to pay the place a visit. Pangilinan is said to have an invitation for a meeting with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson…Each member of the TnT champion team received a championship bonus of P600,000 plus the equivalent of their one-month salary.