WITH most of its stars still busy playing for Smart Gilas Pilipinas, Talk ‘N Text decided to acquire a familiar face as its Asian import to shore-up its roster for the coming Governors’ Cup in the Philippine Basketball Association.
The Tropang Texters’ tapped Syrian standout Michael Madanly, who played last season as Talk ‘N Text’s sister team NLEX’s Asian import, to boost their play at the wing.
Madanly is set to team up with the high-profile regular import of Talk ‘N Text in National Basketball Association veteran Jason Maxiell, a longtime Detroit Piston, as the duo can provide an inside-out threat that can make the Tropang Texters even more dangerous.
When he played for NLEX last season, Madanly showed what he’s capable of doing as he provided the Road Warriors with solid play in the wing position with his slashing and shooting abilities.
An arm injury that Madanly suffered early in the Governors’ Cup of last season hindered him from providing more help for NLEX but clearly, he was able to show his worth as it’s Talk ‘N Text’s turn now to call on him.
Still, he averaged 19.4 points and three rebounds for the Road Warriors last season in his first stint in the PBA.
Despite a powerhouse line-up along with the addition of the top two picks from last year’s draft in Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario, the Tropang Texters have yet to find success this season even if they were considered a favorite to win a title in pre-season predictions.
In the two concluded conferences this season, Tropang TNT failed to even get past the quarterfinals.
With Maxiell and Madanly now in tow, Talk ‘N Text is hoping that it can turn the tides in its favor in the season-ending conference that starts July 15.
Longtime Talk ‘N Text stars Jayson Castro, Ranidel De Ocampo and Ryan Reyes as well as Rosario are all loaned to the National team.
With them currently gone, Talk ‘N Text has veterans Larry Fonacier, Dylan Ababou and Aaron Aban to man the wing for the locals.
Upfront, old reliable Kelly Williams is still there, while Tautuaa will now look to have a bounce back conference after a sub-par showing in the Commissioner’s Cup.