TnT braces for daunting Dubai jaunt

Manila, Philippines - The Talk n Text Tropang Texters, in hot pursuit of the final jewel for a possible grand slam championship, are preparing the best they can for their Dubai two-game swing which coach Chot Reyes describes as a “a trip filled with unknowns.”

They left for the Emirates yesterday morning, hopeful to sustain their three-game streak and return to Manila with a slot in the PBA Governors Cup semifinal round already in the bag.

“Many questions. Can Jimmy Alapag play? Who will be B-Meg’s import? How do you play back-to-back? How to stop a super import like Curtis Stinson?” said Reyes.

“It’s an unbelievably tough schedule for us coming off a tough out-of-town game in Digos (Davao del Sur Saturday). But it is what it is, we should find out a lot about ourselves in this trip,” Reyes said.

The Texters play the B-Meg Llamados Thursday then the Barangay Ginebra Kings Friday in back-to-back games at the Al Shabab Sports Club.

After their game versus Powerade Saturday in Digos, the Tropang Texters just took a shower, grabbed their bags and rushed straight to the airport to catch their 10:30 p.m. flight back to Manila.

“We opted to fly home right away so we can have a longer rest before flying to Dubai. It’s a challenge and we want to be ready,” said Talk n Text team manager Aboy Castro.

“It’s a tough challenge but a good one,” said Alapag who promised to be ready to return from his injury Thursday.

The Llamados depart for Dubai today while the Kings will leave tomorrow.

B-Meg parades new import Darnell Hinson and may reactivate Rafi Reavis against Talk n Text.

The Llamados coaching staff decided to cut Stefhon Hannah though he finally performed well Sunday, helping the team to a 104-92 win over Meralco.

“Yes he (Hannah) played well. But it’s his first good game in four outings, and we just can’t wait for another good game from him,” said B-Meg coach Jorge Gallent.

Hinson starred at Muskogee High School before bringing his act to Northeastern State U which he helped win the NCAA Division II national championship in 2003.

He suited up with the Redmen (now River Hawks) from 2000 to 2004 and became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,498 points.

Hinson, who came to NSU as a walk-in hopeful, was the 2003 NCAA-II Elite Eight Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player where he made 16 of 25 field goals (.640), 8-of-12 treys (.667), and had 15 rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks and a steal during the tourney.

As a senior, Hinson averaged 23.6 points per game hitting 52.8 percent of his field goals (186-of-352), and .457 from behind the arc (69 of 151).

He earned NABC All-America honors in 2004 where he scored 30 or more points in six games, including a 46-point effort against Southwestern Oklahoma State.