Gilas Pilipinas will have to fight a depleted Talk N Text line-up this after Lebanon NT pulled-out for no apparent reason from the MVP Cup in Smart Araneta Coliseum. Ginebra was also asked to fill-in for the Lebanese team but management declined. Pilipinas Basketball is coming-off a Silver finish in Jones Cup 2015.

Philippine Basketball Team was slated to slug it out with New Zealand Wellington Saints, Taiwan National Team and Lebanon National Team. Though Lebanon agreed to play in the much awaited basketball tournament, it suddenly withdrew a few days ago. It was also reported that the Middle Eastern team committed to play in an exhibition in China but also scrammed at the last minute.

Coach Chot Reyes thanked Jong Uichico and TNT management for agreeing to let Talk N Text replace Lebanon in the tournament via Twitter.

Talk N Text will not have Jayson Castro, Ranidel De Ocampo, Moala Tautuaa, Troy Rosario and Matt Ganuelas Rosser who will all play for the Philippine Basketball Team side.

As part of its preparation for the upcoming FIBA Asia Championship 2015, Pilipinas Basketball attended the Four Nations Tournament in Estonia, Europe. The Filipino dribblers also joined William Jones Cup 2015 where they placed 2nd to bag the Silver. The MVP Cup is the last stop in its hectic schedule.

Naturalized center and NBA veteran Andray Blatche will finally rejoin the team in the MVP Cup. As of presstime, another Filipino who may join the National Team is NBA sophomore Jordan Clarkson who is still awaiting the greenlight from the LA Lakers if he can play with Gilas beyond September 28 in FIBA Asia.