Gilas pals part ways, don PBA colors

MANILA, Philippines - They have become a band of brothers with Gilas Pilipinas but are again turning rivals when they rejoin their PBA mother ball clubs in the next few days.

“Babanatan ko kaagad si Ranidel (De Ocampo) sa laro namin sa PBA (I’ll hit Ranidel right in our first meeting in the PBA),” San Mig Coffee mainstay Marc Pingris said in jest.

“Laban-laban uli kami. Yan ang trabaho namin eh (We battle each other again. That’s our job),” said Globalport’s Gary David.

All 12 Gilas players and reserve Beau Belga said they again compete with one another in the PBA, but their bonding as Gilas comrades will forever be there.

For Talk n Text guard Jimmy Alapag and Ginebra counterpart LA Tenorio, the passion for competition facing each other will not simmer down.

“But the competition will just be on the playing court,” said Tenorio.

David and fellow gunners Jeff Chan and Larry Fonacier are just as thrilled facing each other again in a shootout.

“Di maiiwasan magkapisikalan. Pero walang mananadyang manakit diyan (Physicality won’t be avoided. But no one would purposely harm the other),” said David.

Belga, Junmar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar foresee the same.

Aguilar will already be donning the Ginebra jersey in his PBA comeback.

Unsure of what lies ahead for him is naturalized player Marcus Douthit.

“It’s all up to coach Chot Reyes,” said Douthit.

The coaches also return to their respective ballclubs.

Coach Norman Black is concerned all these Gilas players are now well familiar with his schemes at Talk n Text.

The 2012-13 PBA season resumes with the season-ending Governors Cup tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Air21 and Globalport play in the opening game at 5:15 p.m. to be followed by the 7:30 tiff between Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee.

Belga may already suit up with the Elasto Painters versus the Mixers. “Di naman ako napagod eh (I’m not tired),” he said.

The Talk n Text players in Gilas are given a month to rest. “I might rest just for two weeks so as not to lose rhythm and sharpness,” said De Ocampo.

Two days before the start of the Governors Cup, Petron and Barako Bull sealed a trade deal, swapping Dorian Peña and Doug Kramer. Barako Bull also gained a future pick in giving up Kramer.