Talk ‘N Text to join MVP Cup in lieu of Lebanon

MANILA, Philippines – PBA team Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters will be the 4th and final team to participate in the upcoming MVP Cup, Sports5 head Chot Reyes confirmed in a tweet on Monday, September 7.

Thank you Coach Jong & TNT mgt for agreeing to be d 4th team in the MVP Cup after Lebanon’s late withdrawal. New sked to be released soon

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) September 7, 2015

Talk ‘N Text, the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion, will join the 4-nation pocket tournament in lieu of the Lebanon national team that backed out last week due to “unexpected circumstances,” according to Reyes.

Lebanon NT backs out after officially confirming participation in the MVP Cup #smh – stay tuned for the replacement team #neveragainvitethem

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) September 2, 2015

To those asking, Lebanon only cited ‘unexpected circumstances’ in their letter. But don’t worry, tuloy pa rin ang MVP Cup Sept 11-13

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) September 2, 2015

The 3 other participants of the MVP Cup are the Philippine national men’s basketball team, the Taiwan national team and the Wellington Saints of New Zealand.

(READ AND VOTE: Build your Gilas Pilipinas dream team)

The tournament will serve as Gilas Pilipinas’ final tilt ahead of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship later this month. The nationals first played in a pocket tournament in Estonia and have returned home to Manila Monday after bagging the silver medal in the William Jones Cup in Taiwan.

The former Gilas head coach noted the original September 11 to 13 schedule of the tournament will be changed. The games were initially scheduled to be played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (READ: Gilas Pilipinas to play in MVP Cup before FIBA Asia)

Talk ‘N Text will be playing with a depleted line-up as most of its team leaders are in the Gilas pool including primary guard Jayson Castro, Ranidel De Ocampo, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser as well as this year’s first and second overall draft picks Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario. Kelly Williams, who was named to the pool but injured his medial collateral ligament during Gilas practice, will also be out of action for the Texters. (READ: Rosario to TNT, Alas to NLEX, Heruela to SMB headline slew of PBA trades)

There is still no clarification, according to Reyes, whether Gilas assistant coach and Texters head coach Jong Uichico will side with his pro team or the nationals.

Reyes said in response to Twitter questions that other PBA teams did not accept invitations sent to them.

Humindi sila lahat https://t.co/bLQrR1Lfyn

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) September 7, 2015

@I_am_r9 Ayaw Po nila

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) September 7, 2015

 – Rappler.com