Undersized Pals silence Thunder

It’s Talk n Text versus Barangay Ginebra and Coca-Cola against Red Bull Barako in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference Final Four.

The Phone Pals, minus suspended stars Jerald Honeycutt and Asi Taulava, fashioned out an improbable 119-115 win over the Thunder while the Tigers reasserted their mastery of the Kings as they emerged the top seeds in the crossover best-of-three semifinals beginning Wednesday.

Willie Miller dished out a revved-up game versus his former teammates, giving the Phone Pals a big lift in the absence of Honeycutt and Taulava as they stunned the Thunder and the sizable weekend crowd at the Philsports Arena.

Robert Wainwright, meanwhile, came up with clutch hustle plays at endgame as the Tigers overcame several double-digit deficits and made it three-of-three against the Kings this conference.

Both the Phone Pals and the Tigers completed a three-game sweep in the brief quarterfinal round, and will enjoy momentum and possibly the right frame of mind as they take on the Kings and the Thunder at the start of the semis Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Coaches Joel Banal of Talk n Text and Chot Reyes of Coca-Cola said they have a job cut out for them in the semis.

"Ginebra is big and could match up well with us," said Banal of the Kings.

"Historically, we have a terrible record against Red Bull. Obviously, they are really, really tough because of big guys Davonn Harp, Mick Pennisi, Enrico Villanueva and import Victor Thomas who can play from the outside, in the wings, in the post and practically anywhere on the floor," said Reyes of the Thunder.

Playing with a small lineup sans their ace frontliners, the Phone Pals rode high on the exploits of their backcourt men, led by Miller, as they fashioned out what Banal called "an abnormal game."

"Red Bull was supposed to win the game but an abnormal thing happened," said Banal.

"We’re playing without pressure. It’s a case of just playing and enjoying the game. Red Bull, meanwhile, had little pressure. That could be the story of the game," Banal added.

The Phone Pals stole the game from the Thunder as they came up with a closing 9-0 run in the last two minutes highlighted by brilliant plays from Miller.

The former Letran Knight, who won PBA MVP honors with Red Bull in 2002, scored on a barreling drive off Mick Pennisi, threw a perfect alley-oop pass to Mark Telan, beat the much-taller Enrico Villanueva in a tip-off and hit a booming triple in the decisive Talk n Text endgame attack.

Miller finished with a new career-high 33 points that went with four rebounds, four assists and three steals in one of his finest performances in the PBA transition tourney where he is in the running for Best Player of the Conference honors.

"Basta laro lang kasi ang nasa isip namin. Kahit ano ang mangyari, okay lang daw sabi ni coach," said Miller.

Jimmy Alapag and Felix Belano, who alternated at the point guard spot, combined for 41 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds.