Texters duo will stay with Smart Gilas five

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MANILA---Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams are willing to split their time playing for the national team  and Talk ‘N Text in the PBA, but commissioner Chito Salud won’t have it their way.

With the Tropang Texters set to chase a historic Grand Slam in the coming import-spiced Governors Cup, Alapag and Williams have expressed desire to play for both squads at the same time.

But commissioner Chito Salud said that either they  play for the Smart Gilas national five or miss the Governors Cup.

“That has been the understanding with the board (of PBA governors),” Salud said. “It would be unfair for Air21 and Meralco, who released their players (for the National team) right at the end of the second conference.”

The Express have loaned Dondon Hontiveros and the B-Boys Asi Taulava to the Rajko Toroman-steered Smart-Gilas team, which will try to qualify for an Olympic berth in China in September.

And since the Governors Cup will end late in August at the latest, Alapag and Williams have signified  intentions to play in the PBA and help the Texters become just the fifth team to complete a Triple Crown sweep.