Talk N Text Top 15
May 22, 2012 by Sydrick Salazar
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Catch the Top 30 version of this article at www.sydrified.org!
Once upon a time the PBA was down to six teams. It sucks because there were a lot of talents that found it hard to break in the PBA. The PBA back then may have seen the end of the pioneers but with the 80’s All Stars and the new batch of stars led by Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic, and Benjie Paras, expansion needs to happen.
In 1990, soft drink squads Pop Cola and Pepsi joined the PBA.
Pepsi would later become the Talk N Text Tropang Texters.
More than twenty years since their debut, we look back to spot the best players to don their colors. The scope of the individuals will range from the days of Pepsi, the name change to 7Up (because Pepsi gained bad rep with the 349 Number Fever scandal), the analog ways of Mobiline, and their transition into Talk N Text.
The rankings are based on the accolades they achieved during their stint with the team. The years they spent with the squad will also matter as well as their importance to the squad.
15 – MARK CLEMENCE TELAN
“the marksman”
1x MYTHICAL TEN
A Tanduay direct hire, Telan emerged from the shadows of Eric Menk during his time with Shell. Mobiline noticed his talents and swiped him off in 2002. I remember there was a time when Telan averaged in double figures up until the team’s last few games. Telan carried most of the team’s bulk when Asi Taulava was tormented by the DOJ.
14 – JERRY CODINERA
“the defense minister”
One reason why Seigle drew negative flak in the course of his career is because he was indirectly responsible of separating the Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codinera partnership. 25 million couldn’t lure Alvin so they did the next best thing. Codinera did more than bleaching his hair blonde (he did that to delight Asi) but at this point, the DM’s game was fast declining.
13 – ANDY SEIGLE
“the eagle”
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Andy Seigle was the first Fil-Am since Ricardo Brown to make hoop junkies giggle in glee. The guy had height, can jam, and was an imposing presence for a team desperately in need of firepower. His battles with Marlou Aquino were a thing of beauty and it always perks up Marlou whenever he can get his hands on The Eagle. Seigle was often-injured though and Mobiline chose to trade him off.
12 – MANNY VICTORINO
“the main man”
In 1991, Pepsi gave up their second overall pick (I think this became Bong Hawkins) to acquire this guy. Victorino like Guidaben gave the young squad a couple of veteran hands to catapult them to the top. While this dream remained in the minds of the thinkers, Victorino gained two All-Star invites as a Hotshot.
11 – ABET GUIDABEN
“the pioneer”
Guidaben is a PBA pioneer who had a double grand slam with Crispa, an all-time mark in games played, a noteworthy record in points and rebounds, and was Pepsi’s first major superstar. Traded by Alaska for Harmon Codinera, Guidaben gave the team stability and a slim fighting chance to buck all odds.
10 – JAY WASHINGTON
“j-wash”
1x MYTHICAL 5
He was the top pick of Air21 at the 2005 PBA Draft… that they wasted and sent to Talk N Text. Washington’s rookie season was disappointing because he was forced to spend most of it on the injured list. But when he got healthy, he became that quiet operator who would compile a lot of points and rebounds without his opponents realizing it.
9 – HARVEY CAREY
“the bulldog”
1x MYTHICAL 10
Since 2003 he has become a fixture in the TNT lineup. The scrappy Fil-Am wowed people at the 2003 PBA Rookie Camp which is why the Phone Pals chose him over Enrico Villanueva and Jimmy Alapag. Minutes are hard to come by during points for Carey but when he gets on the court, he commands respect and attention.
8 – JEFFREY CARIASO
“the jet”
1x MYTHICAL 5
After the 1996 Alaska Grand Slam, The Jet became a high priority to acquire in free agency. Alaska tried to match up Mobiline’s offer but for a team in need for a firestarter, they are dead-bent to get his services. While Cariaso’s Mobiline start was rocky, when he combined with Andy Seigle and Asi Taulava, they became formidable.
7 – KELLY WILLIAMS
“machine gun kelly”
1x MYTHICAL 5
1x MYTHICAL 10
Many might agree that the entry of Machine Gun Kelly in this team was lopsided at all counts. This is not the Sta. Lucia version of Kelly Williams where he scores at will and plays above the rim a lot of times. Preferring to play as a defensive specialist, Williams still finds his worth through his rebounding awesomeness.
6 – JAYSON CASTRO
“the blur”
1x MYTHICAL 10
2x FINALS MVP
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
People should hate this pick because The Blur seems to be too current for your liking but his entry to the squad did jumpstart Talk N Text’s upward movement. Continuing the winning legacy he nurtured during his PCU days to his days leading the Harbour Centre Port Masters to victory after victory, Castro also had the knack to fit in every rotational position Chot Reyes would cultivate.
5 – VICTOR PABLO
“the conqueror”
1x MYTHICAL 5
Before TNT became the title-grabbing squad they are now, they were the Pepsi Hotshots – a lowly franchise that would erupt for every win they claim in a season. Pablo was traded to Pepsi so that Manny Victorino can play for Ginebra. Pablo would live Pepsi/7Up in a trade to claim Alvin Teng but years later he returned to the team now known as the Mobiline Phone Pals where he will become a fixture on their 2000’s championship run.
4 – WILLIE MILLER
“the thriller”
1x BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE
2x MYTHICAL FIVE
Talk N Text had nothing to lose and everything to gain when Yeng Guiao decided to release their MVP. The Thriller teamed up with Alapag and Taulava to form a super trio. Perceived as the third option, Miller sprung out of obscurity to become a scoring juggernaut. I think this was the first real time that Miller scored the hell out of his opponents. Afterwards he moved to Alaska where he claimed his second MVP title.
3 – MACMAC CARDONA
“captain hook”
1x BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE
1x MYTHICAL 5
2x MYTHICAL 10
1x FINALS MVP
Captain Hook was one of many Air21 draftees who were let go by the Lina franchise through lopsided deals. Either that or Air21 stops at nothing just to get the services of Patrick Fran. His stock rose when Chot Reyes was mapping up a FIBA-Asia squad and Renren Ritualo was one of its fixtures. Without their top guys, Cardona became the team’s de facto scoring leader. When Ritualo returned to the lineup, his starting spot was not his anymore.
2 – ASI TAULAVA
“the rock”
1x MVP
1x BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE
1x MYTHICAL 5
1x MYTHICAL 10
1x FINALS MVP
1x ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
1x SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
He is an aggressive, almost unstoppable, blonde-haired bruiser that can unleash hell on his tormentors. The Mobiline Phone Pals became instant contenders when they direct-hired the 6’10 Fil-Tongan that played for Blu Detergent in the PBL in 1999. Sure it only took a diminutive Bal David to make him cry but the team lived and died with his presence. Despite the numerous citizenship issues that robbed his career, Taulava continued to be a force in the middle for the Tropang Texters until the trade that sent him to the Coca-Cola Tigers in 2007.
1 – JIMMY ALAPAG
“the mighty mouse”
1x MVP
1x BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE
3x MYTHICAL 5
2x FINALS MVP
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
He pretty much has the speed of Dindo Pumaren, playmaking qualities of Hector Calma, and the scoring mentality of Ronnie Magsanoc. It’s funny that Talk N Text’s best player was acquired by the squad through bargain. When Alaska traded Kenneth Duremdes to acquire the rights of rookie Brandon Cablay, they decided to send their tenth pick to the Phone Pals in exchange for Don Camaso. That deal career-killed Camaso and started Alaska’s title drought. For Alapag however, regardless of the various problems that comes to his way (for example, the Jimwell Torion clothesline), he has become one of the most important PBA superstars at the turn of the century.
There were a lot of big time players to wear the TNT jersey like Jared Dillinger, Don Allado, Elmer Cabahug, Bong Alvarez, Noli Locsin, Vergel Meneses, Poch Juinio, Franz Pumaren, Yoyoy Villamin, Ricky Relosa, Al Solis, Willie Generalao, Rey Cuenco, and Nic Belasco. There were other players like Glenn Capacio (1x All-Defensive Team Member during his Mobiline stint), Dwight Lago, Gido Babilonia, Cadel Mosqueda, Leo Austria, Joy Carpio, John Ferriols, Eric Reyes, and others who wore the TNT colors at one point of their careers.
By the way, this is my list. Feel free to speak your mind though.
Game over!
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