“Talagang masakit, pero pinipilit ko na lang minsan kasi parang sanay na din ako sa nararamdamang sakit,” said the 28-year-old de Ocampo.

Shifty guard Ryan Reyes is now fully recovered from a leg injury but Talk ’N Text will certainly be handicapped by the absence of top forward Ranidel de Ocampo who is still recuperating from foot operations last month.

Since the healing process takes at least four months, the 6-foot-5 de Ocampo will not see action for the Tropang Texters until December which could pose a potential danger to the team’s early campaign in the next PBA conference which will be an all-Filipino affair.

The bone spurs on his left foot that left him in pain since June were removed only last August 11 – just days before they were beaten by eventual PBA Fiesta Cup champion Alaska in their semis series.

The same procedure was done on his right foot last August 29.

“Talagang masakit, pero pinipilit ko na lang minsan kasi parang sanay na din ako sa nararamdamang sakit,” said the 28-year-old de Ocampo.

De Ocampo, the first winner of the classification Top Performer award in the previous Fiesta Cup, said he’s still in crutches but he’s hoping he can start his rehabilitation next week.

De Ocampo averaged 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists last season.

TNT coach Chot Reyes acknowledges the absence of de Ocampo will create a gaping hole in the middle but he’s hoping that Kelly Williams and Harvey Carey would help each other in plugging the hole.

“That’s something we already know, so we just have to make do with what we have,” said Reyes.

The 6-foot-4 Carey was a big revelation last season after norming 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, while the 6-foot-7 Williams, obtained by TNT together with Reyes in a deal with Sta. Lucia Realty in the Fiesta Cup, had 10.2 points and seven boards.

The team, according to Reyes, is set to leave for training camp in Qatar on Sept. 19.

Meantime, sources said that the deal between sister-teams San Miguel Beer and B-Meg Derby Ace is pushing through via a three-team trade.

The Beermen will get B-Meg’s playmaker Paul Artadi in exchange of Jonas Villanueva. Air21, as usual, will act as a conduit.