“It couldn’t come at a worse time,” coach Chot Reyes told reporters Wednesday night, referring to the annual classic that will call a cease-fire to the action this weekend as his Tropang Texters will certainly lose some momentum of a four-game winning streak sealed Wednesday night.

A 115-91 bamboozling of Coca-Cola at the Araneta Coliseum gave Reyes his longest winning run with Talk ’N Text for solo second place going into the break, but the firebrand mentor could only shake his head, as his problem is how to get his wards back in fighting form when action resumes.

“Today that streak ends. We don’t have a game until May 1 so we will come into the post All-Star break hoping to start another one (winning streak),” he explained. “We have to pick up the pieces and get on the horse again starting May 1 and that would be the challenge.” So fluid were the Texters that four locals scored in twin digits, three of them in the 20s, and they didn’t even feel the pinch of import Shawn Daniels scoring just eight points.

In fact, Reyes feels that they have the perfect reinforcement in the burly Daniels, who complements the team to a T.

“We’re very happy with Shawn,” Reyes said. “He gives us what we need. He doesn’t demand the ball and he’s content with passing off, setting screens and playing defense. But I wouldn’t say that he’s got a lock on the job.

“If you’re asking me if we will evaluate his performance during the break, we won’t,” he said. “But it’s the job of every coach to upgrade his lineup if a better player comes.” Defense was also key for the Texters as they held Gary David scoreless in the first half and James Penny to just five points in the final two quarters as Talk ‘N Text broke away early and finished off the Tigers in a flurry.

Jimmy Alapag drilled in 28 points and had seven assists for the Texters, his completion of a rare four-point play in the middle of the opening quarter giving Talk ‘N Text a 24-11 lead.

And that was all the momentum that the Texters needed as the Tigers never got their acts going. After David seemingly found his stride in the final two periods, it was Penny’s turn to be shut down and the other Coca-Cola players never stepped up.

Ranidel De Ocampo, whom Reyes said was having a career tournament with Daniels around, finished with 25 points. The 6-foot-7 forward came into the game as the leading local scorer with an average of just a shade under 20 points a contest.

Penny still finished with 21 points and David 16, but Asi Taulava could only contribute two.

In the first game, Derby Ace found an import-less Barako Coffee side easy picking, posting a 93-80 decision to snap a two-game losing streak.

But despite the win, coach Ryan Gregorio was just half-pleased, especially since the winning margin was that small considering that his Llamados played the lowliest squad in the lot.

“The aspect (in our game) we need to pay attention to is how to score points,” coach Ryan Gregorio told reporters after rising to 3-2. “The object of the game is not only to make stops but score more points.” Coming into the contest, Derby Ace was scoring an average of just 83.8 points and allowing 80.

“We need a lot of balance – we’re No. 1 in the league in defense but No. 10 (and last) in offense,” Gregorio continued. “Tonight, we scored more points only because they (Coffee Masters) didn’t have an import.” Lorenzo Wade did lead the Llamados with 27 points, but his job will be scrutinized this weekend, especially with Kerby Raymundo continuing to sit it out because of a leg injury.

“We need to be able to have a low-post presence because if we don’t teams will continue to hound us in the perimeter,” Gregorio said.

Barako Coffee import Sammy Monroe served out his one-game suspension and the Coffee Masters never stood a chance and lost for the sixth straight time in a 1-6 card.

Bad news for Monroe is that he may not even be able to make it back since coach Junel Baculi sounded determined in finding someone who plays big inside to take his place when they return to action on May 2.

“I don’t know what our decision will be,” Barako Coffee coach Junel Baculi said. “In this league, your import should be versatile. Our problem with him is he cannot play the low post. And he has been scouted (by the opposition) very well.”