Tigers book ticket to quarters

Coca-Cola showed enough endgame poise as it turned back Talk N’ Text, 94-91, yesterday to seize solo second place and a quarterfinal slot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Bryant Basemore did most of the dirty work as he scored nine of his 34 points in the fourth quarter although it was Ron Hale’s endgame tenacity that knocked the Phone Pals out.

Hale had two defensive gems in the dying seconds while hitting three crucial foul shots that sealed the Tigers’ fifth win in seven outings, half a game away from leader Batang Red Bull (5-1).

"It’s a statement game for us," said Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes. "It showed that we can win games against a team with a big import like Honeycutt."

With Hale firing and hitting his target, the Tigers led by 10 points, 67-57, but Honeycutt rammed his way in the shaded area, scoring 15 points in the period while setting up his teammates for three-pointers as the Pals moved closer, 70-71.

Honeycutt, who finished with 44 markers and 12 rebounds, was no different in the final canto as he led the Pals back into the game.

Talk N’ Text had several chances of snatching the game but Danny Johnson, who hit five triples earlier, muffed two attempts from behind the three-point arc as the Pals fell to their third setback against four triumphs.