Gilas Pilipinas vs. Talk 'N Text: Score and Reaction from 2015 MVP Cup

Gilas Pilipinas kicked off their 2015 MVP Cup campaign in impressive fashion Friday with a 93-77 victory over PBA squad Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.

Tournament organizers added Talk 'N Text to the event just days before it began after Lebanon dropped out, and while the team put up a good fight, the Philippines national basketball team's overall talent level was simply too much to overcome.

Point guard Terrence Romeo is coming off a spectacular showing at the William Jones Cup, and that carried over to Friday's contest as he led all scorers with 22 points and added five assists for the triumphant Gilas team.

The Texters were shorthanded since several of their players are on the national team, but they received an impressive performance from Larry Fonacier, who kept them afloat with 20 points.

According to Ryan Songalia of Rappler, the game wasn't as competitive as he hoped after an entertaining first quarter in which the teams were only separated by one point:

The biggest subplot of the game involved former Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche, who returned to Gilas after missing the William Jones Cup due to personal matters.

Blatche put up 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting, and there is some concern regarding his conditioning with the FIBA Asia Championship quickly approaching.

Prior to Friday's contest, Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin laid out his plans for the 29-year-old veteran at the MVP Cup and beyond, per Rey Joble of Sports5:

"

I think we're gonna get very close and we need to get him very close. In pushing himself now, we're gonna find the balance between helping him to improve his fitness, strength and conditioning and sharp player, but not exposing him to getting so fatigued that he gets injured. That now is not defined. We still don't know where he is. We've got to do the best achieve it.

"

After the game, Baldwin stressed the importance of Blatche getting in prime shape so he can fit Gilas' offensive system, according to Levi Verora Jr. of Swish Appeal:

"

Baldwin: Blatche has to run with us. We played a high tempo tonight w/ Jayson and Terrence.

— LVJ (@levijoshua) September 11, 2015"

It certainly didn't look as though Blatche was in optimum shape Friday, which is something that rubbed Songalia the wrong way:

There is still time for Blatche to get where he needs to be before the games really matter, but there is some reason to be concerned, especially since he is such a key figure in Philippines' pursuit of a 2016 Olympic berth.

In the first game of the day, New Zealand breezed past Chinese Taipei 108-80, which means Saturday's meeting between Philippines and New Zealand could decide who wins the 2015 MVP Cup for all intents and purposes.

The winner of that contest will be 2-0 in the round-robin tournament, and while it wouldn't seal a victory, they would undoubtedly be very much in the driver's seat.

Fresh off a second-place finish in the William Jones Cup and with home-court advantage on their side, Gilas entered the MVP Cup as heavy favorites to come out on top.

On the heels of their performance against Talk 'N Text, Gilas Pilipinas are still clearly the team to beat in their final preparation tournament prior to the FIBA Asia Championship.  

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