2011 PBA DRAFT: TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS – WHAT THEY NEED

(This is the first of ten articles called What They Need. Last year, I made a version where we called out a PBA team’s roster and pick out the slots they need to shore up. Most of these deficiencies are addressed via the draft.) 

Winning two of the three conference titles in one season is not a bad thing. Sure, they lost the grand slam on their last game but what they did right now is not that easy.

Rooms for improvement? Fatigue could be an issue. Injuries are another. The Tropang Texters are the team to beat. Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes, Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, and Ali Peek man the starting five while Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier, Harvey Carey, Jared Dillinger, and Aaron Aban are the men off the bench. If things don’t work, they can always rely on their reserves Gilbert Lao, Mark Yee, Emer Oreta, and Rich Alvarez. 

With Japeth Aguilar joining the squad to provide size, it’s almost certain that the Tropang Texters are poised to dominate anew.

So what now?

TOP FIVE TROPANG TEXTERS OF THE 2010-11 SEASON:

1 JIMMY ALAPAG 

PHILCUP: 14.3PPG – 3.0RPG – 5.7APG – 27 GAMES

COMCUP: 13.3PPG – 3.3RPG – 5.5APG – 18 GAMES

GOVCUP: 8.7PPG – 2.1RPG – 5.0APG – 18 GAMES

2 KELLY WILLIAMS

PHILCUP: 9.6PPG – 7.4RPG – 1.3APG – 0.7SPG – 25 GAMES

COMCUP: 9.2PPG – 7.6RPG – 0.9APG – 0.9SPG – 18 GAMES

GOVCUP: 9.8PPG – 6.7RPG – 1.3APG – 1.0SPG – 20 GAMES

3 JASON CASTRO 

PHILCUP: 11.5PPG – 4.0RPG – 3.7APG – 0.9SPG – 27 GAMES

COMCUP: 10.5PPG – 3.4RPG – 3.4RPG – 1.4SPG – 15 GAMES

GOVCUP: 13.5PPG – 3.9RPG – 5.2APG – 0.8SPG – 19 GAMES

4 ALI PEEK

PHILCUP: 12.5PPG – 9.2RPG – 1.1BPG – 27 GAMES

COMCUP: 8.2PPG – 5.9RPG – 0.9BPG – 18 GAMES

GOVCUP: 7.2PPG – 6.5RPG – 1.1BPG – 20 GAMES

5 RANIDEL DE OCAMPO   

PHILCUP: 9.3PPG – 3.6RPG – 1.7APG – 16 GAMES

COMCUP: 13.7PPG – 5.6RPG – 1.8APG – 18 GAMES

GOVCUP: 12.5PPG – 5.4RPG – 2.1APG – 15 GAMES

WHAT THEY NEED:

CENTERS: Sure Talk N Text is a star-studded team but one thing they lack is size. Ranidel de Ocampo is the team’s main offensive threat but he is more of a shooter than an inside threat. Ali Peek is bull-strong but he’s also under 6’5. So are Kelly Williams and Harvey Carey. Jared Dillinger is listed as 6’5 so that’s something the Texters need to check out. Lucky for them, Japeth Aguilar is going to give their frontline size. And no, Gilbert Lao despite being 6’9 is not an inside threat.  

FORWARDS: The Texters use their vaulted 3-guard rotation and it has worked for them. One of their big men slide to the power forward spot and if they want a big lineup, they can always rely on Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, and Jared Dillinger to play the SF spot. And then there’s Mark Yee, Rich Alvarez, Emerson Oreta, and Aaron Aban just in case they need it.

GUARDS: This is again a position Talk N Text needs to... not mind for the mean time. Unless injuries hurt the squad, the pack of Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro, Ryan Reyes, and Larry Fonacier are solid in this spot. Maybe they need another guard in their mix?

WHO SHOULD THEY PICK? 

Whoever Talk N Text picks, expect that rookie to get limited minutes. If it ain’t broke... why fix it right? Besides, with Japeth coming in, there is no need for them to pick an extra hand. However there is still a room for improvement at the TNT camp.

At number seven, there is still a Smart-Gilas player (or players) left in the draft. My guess is it would be Dylan Ababou, Mark Barroca, or Jason Ballesteros (unless Paul Lee is still available). The Tropang Texters have the luxury who to pick up whoever they choose that they will need and would spoil the yearnings of Petron or Ginebra. Ballesteros is a dream for players that lack size while Ababou can be at value for teams that lack scoring. Barroca is a wonderful addition for a squad in need of a quality point guard.

Fact is though, I can also see the squad trading this pick to claim a top-tier Smart-Gilas star. The former Air21 squad, Barako Bull, would likely give up the player they pick third for this pick and another serviceable performer. 


By the way... 


MARC AGUSTIN TO TNT!!!! 

Game over.