4-way rumble on for last slot

Four teams will wage their last-ditch campaign for the last seat in the Gran Matador Brandy PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals as they clash beginning today at the Araneta Coliseum.

Air21 plays Sta. Lucia Realty at 4:40 p.m. while Barangay Ginebra takes on Talk n Text at 7:35 p.m. to start their one-round-robin rumble to decide which team joins Red Bull, Alaska Milk and Coca-Cola in the next round.

The four teams will be carrying over their records into the wildcard plays, thus, Air21 and Ginebra start at 7-9, Talk n Text at 6-8 and Sta. Lucia at 5-9.

The team, which sweeps its wildcard assignments, gains automatic playoff crack regardless of its standing after the round.

Awaiting the wildcard round topnotcher in the quarters is Red Bull with Alaska Milk and Coca-Cola to slug it out in the other best-of-five quarters match-up.

The winner in the Red Bull series advances to the semis against San Miguel Beer while the victor in the Alaska-Coke tiff arranges a Final Four battle with Purefoods.

With its formidable lineup spared by injuries, Talk n Text sets out the top favorite in the wildcard.

Talk n Text coach Derrick Pumaren hopes they have gotten over the hump as they dished out an impeccable game against Coca-Cola Friday to check their mind-boggling six-game slump.

That’s the Phone Pals’ first win since the arrival of Renren Ritualo and Don Allado from other teams and the return of Anthony Washington from injury.