Dynasty or flag and country?

MANILA, Philippines - For Talk ‘N’ Text, it’s one dilemma that keeps hounding the team.

After successfully defending the PBA Philippine Cup championship, the Smart-PLDT franchise is again faced with the question whether to keep its focus on building a dynasty in the pro league or tamper with the makeup of the champion team to help the national squad.

There’s no official announcement yet but words are out Talk ‘N’ Text coach Chot Reyes is going to take over from Rajko Toroman as head coach of Smart Gilas Pilipinas.

It’s not a remote possibility, either, that a number of Talk ‘N’ Text players will be invited to the national pool.

Reyes, still just a part of the Smart Gilas pool of coaches along with Jong Uichico, Ryan Gregorio and Norman Black, expects the group to start planning their courses of action by next week.

“Coach Rajko’s status (non-extension of his contract) has been resolved. I’m sure the group will start discussing the next steps,” said Reyes.

But with the next major international tourney still a year away, Reyes is keeping a mindset that his job is to prepare Talk ‘N’ Text to remain competitive in the next two conferences.

“There’s no urgent need for the national team this year. So as far as I’m concerned, the directive is to coach Talk ‘N’ Text in the next two conferences,” said Reyes.

After nailing back-to-back Philippine Cup titles, the Texters’ next goal is also to win the Commissioner’s Cup two in a row.

“The import will play a big part. But I can’t say yet how will our import fit although he’s been here for a while now. Since we’re in the finals, I just saw him on ‘walk-throughs,’” said Reyes of their import Omar Samhan, a 6-foot-11 white player from Saint Mary’s University.

The Texters will be out to stretch their domination of the league, going for a fourth title in the last five conferences and fifth in four years.

Reyes and his troops carved an incredible feat, fighting back from the brink of ouster in the semifinals versus Petron Blaze and going all the way to the pinnacle of glory in stamping their class against Powerade in the PBA Philippine Cup finale.

The Texters brushed off the Tigers, 110-101, Sunday to win their best-of-seven series in five games and become the first team in 27 years to successfully defend the All-Filipino crown.

“They wouldn’t give up but neither would we,” said Reyes who secured his eighth PBA championship, fifth in the Philippine Cup.

Reyes ranked this conquest among the sweetest, considering the trials they faced and hurdled.

“I believe championships are made of special moments, and there’s nothing more special than having Ali Peek with us here after his tragedy.”

Peek was shot by an unidentified assailant last November but survived and came back to help Talk ‘N’ Text win the championship.

Another special moment was the Texters’ epic comeback from 1-3 down versus the Boosters in the semifinals. Only two teams in Barangay Ginebra and Purefoods had done the feat.

“Even myself had thought this is not for us. But the players said it’s not over and that we can come back. When we did, I saw it as a good sign,” said Reyes.

To many, the Texters have won the championship as they overcame the tough Petron side in the semis.