by Waylon Galvez
Aside from the injuries Talk ’N Text is dealing with early in the PBA Philippine Cup, there’s another reason why the Tropang Texters opted to add veteran forward Danny Seigle to the roster by giving him a one-year deal.
TNT coach Norman Black said that he’s anticipating the call back of the national team Gilas Pilipinas to some of his players.
“We take that into consideration, that some of our players will be going back to train with the Gilas Pilipinas,” said Black, who is also a member of the national team coaching staff headed by former TNT mentor Chot Reyes.
Last August during the FIBA-Asia Championship here, four Talk ’N Text mainstays played for the Nationals, namely Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier and Jayson Castro, who was named to the tournament’s Mythical Five.
Gilas Pilipinas finished second overall – winning the silver medal – to automatically qualify in next year’s World Cup in Spain.
Reyes has not scheduled when the official training will begin but has hinted a few weeks ago that the Monday practice session will resume in January.
Reyes and PBA Commissioner Chito Salud have met a few times and discussed plans to form the team and its training schedule.
However, the PBA Board of Governors – currently chaired by Meralco Ramon Segismundo – will have the final say on what to do to the national team as PBA players will be loaned anew to the Gilas Pilipinas in the World Cup.
Black is preparing early in the event the same TNT players will be added to the national team.
Last week, the 6-foot-6 Seigle signed a one-year contract with the Texters, and his addition will add depth and experience to a roster that is loaded with veterans.
The 37-year-old Seigle is expected to debut in a TNT uniform on Tuesday against Globalport.
Sources also said that Talk ’N Text is also interested in signing another Danny – former two-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso, who is currently a free agent after his contract with Petron Blaze expired last Oct. 31 and has yet to receive a contract extension.
Meantime, sources also said that Ali Peek will be put on the injured list, which will pave the way for Seigle to be on the active roster to maintain a five Fil-foreigners requirement per team under the league rules.
Prior to Seigle’s arrival, TNT has six Fil-Ams in Alapag, Peek, Kelly Williams, Harvey Carey, Sean Anthony and Rob Reyes, who is already in the reserve list.