source: Waylon Galvez | mb.com.ph
Shifty guard Ryan Reyes is now fully recovered from a leg injury but Talk ’N Text will certainly be handicapped by the absence of top forward Ranidel de Ocampo who is still recuperating from foot operations last month.
Since the healing process takes at least four months, the 6-foot-5 de Ocampo will not see action for the Tropang Texters until December which could pose a potential danger to the team’s early campaign in the next PBA conference which will be an all-Filipino affair.
The bone spurs on his left foot that left him in pain since June were removed only last August 11 – just days before they were beaten by eventual PBA Fiesta Cup champion Alaska in their semis series.
The same procedure was done on his right foot last August 29.
“Talagang masakit, pero pinipilit ko na lang minsan kasi parang sanay na din ako sa nararamdamang sakit,” said the 28-year-old de Ocampo.
De Ocampo, the first winner of the classification Top Performer award in the previous Fiesta Cup, said he’s still in crutches but he’s hoping he can start his rehabilitation next week.
De Ocampo averaged 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists last season.
TNT coach Chot Reyes acknowledges the absence of de Ocampo will create a gaping hole in the middle but he’s hoping that Kelly Williams and Harvey Carey would help each other in plugging the hole.
“That’s something we already know, so we just have to make do with what we have,” said Reyes.
The 6-foot-4 Carey was a big revelation last season after norming 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, while the 6-foot-7 Williams, obtained by TNT together with Reyes in a deal with Sta. Lucia Realty in the Fiesta Cup, had 10.2 points and seven boards.
The team, according to Reyes, is set to leave for training camp in Qatar on Sept. 19.
Meantime, sources said that the deal between sister-teams San Miguel Beer and B-Meg Derby Ace is pushing through via a three-team trade.
The Beermen will get B-Meg’s playmaker Paul Artadi in exchange of Jonas Villanueva. Air21, as usual, will act as a conduit.
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chot reyes ano po sinasabi niyo na kwilliams e maglalaro pa sa inyo? wag ninyo sabohin di niyo ipapahiram sa gilas siya. mahiya naman po kayo kasi yan ang kasunduan
6-foot-4 carey? 6-foot-7 williams? are you sure?
OO kakapalan na ng mukha yan... kinuha nyo 2 key player ng Sta.Lucia para sa SmartGilas tpos nd nyo nmn pla paglalaruin.... im sure alam na ng talk n text before na mabubuwag na sta.lucia kya nag offer ito ng malaking hlaga para mkuha sila kelly and ryan na pinalabas nila na para sa bansa ang ginawa nilang pagkuha d2 na ang tunay na intensyon nmn eh para maunahan nila ang ibang teams...
Dapat mapunta nalang sila kelly at ryan sa barako bull para mging balance ang mga team sa PBA..
mapunta sa barako bull? bkit my pang bayad b sila?
it's all about money dude,thats the reality