Pals stall Tigers entry to quarters

Talk n Text denied Coca-Cola outright entry into the quarterfinals and gave itself the needed boost going into the wildcard round as the Phone Pals checked their slump with an 83-71 taming of the Tigers in the Gran Matador Brandy PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center last night.

The Phone Pals finally lived up to potential of their souped-up lineup as they arrested their six-game skid and improved the win-loss record (6-10) they are to carry over in the wildcard play starting Wednesday.

The Pals gained their first win with Renren Ritualo and Don Allado in tow at the expense of the Tigers whom they sent to a knockout game versus the Air21 Express tomorrow for the third outright slot in the quarterfinals.

Coca-Cola should have joined Red Bull and Alaska Milk in the quarters had the Tigers escaped the Talk n Text ambush.

The Pals, however, showed great resolve to end their six-game losing skein — the longest by any team this conference and the longest by the franchise since Asi Taulava joined the team in 1999.

"We have accepted the fact that we’ll go through the wildcard round. And for us, the wildcard started in this game," said Talk n Text coach Derrick Pumaren.

"This win is important for us because we’re able to draw closer with the two teams ahead of us," Pumaren added.

Barangay Ginebra boosted its spirit and jacked up the record it’s carrying over into the wildcard phase as it whipped Red Bull, 109-107, in the day’s other game.

The sad note for the Kings was the bad fall of Mike Holper in the third quarter. The Fil-Am rookie hurt his back and was rushed to the Cardinal Santos Hospital.