Team captain Jimmy Alapag got a bird’s eye view of his understudy – rookie standout Kevin Alas. Ranidel de Ocampo also skipped the season opening game against Ginebra and saw another newcomer, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, chalking up minutes of playing time.
The two Talk N Text stalwarts got their much-deserved rest while seeing the Talk N Text Tropang Texters’ full potential on Sunday’s opening of the PBA’s 40th season.
This season’s Philippine Cup saw the Tropang Texters busy tinkering their line up, acquiring young guns like Alas and Ganuelas-Rosser as well as dependable veteran forward Jay Washington.
These players were picked up in separate major trades during the off season.
Despite the absence of Alapag and De Ocampo, the Tropang Texters were able to push their rivals to the limit until faltering in the final few minutes of the game.
For Alapag, moments like this are hard to come by.
Since their successful run for the past few years and their involvement with the national team program, Alapag and De Ocampo barely got enough rest in in between seasons.
It’s no surprise why Alapag is taking his sweet time before plunging back to action.
But for how long?
“Honestly there’s really no time table. I just need a break, not just physically, but more so on the mental aspect. It was a heavy three months playing with Gilas in Spain and the Asian Games. I need a break, but how long that break would be? I need to talk to Coach Jong (Uichico) and the staff and see from there. But knowing me, I wouldn’t be out too long,” Alapag told Tiebreaker Times.
Alapag played his last international tournaments in the World Cup in Spain and the Asian Games in Korea.
For De Ocampo, rest is a luxury.
“Tuloy-tuloy kasi yung laro namin simula pa noong FIBA Asia (last year),” said De Ocampo.
