Tigers, Express clash for last slot

Mark Telan was another former Talk n Text player who came to the fore last night, joining Asi Taulava in producing big numbers as the Coca-Cola Tigers eased the Pals out of further contention in the Smart PBA Philippine Cup.

Before a good Friday crowd at the Astrodome, Telan fired 22 points and added nine rebounds while Taulava hauled down 16 rebounds and rifled in 13 points as the Tigers whipped the Pals, 81-73, to advance to the second round of the wildcard plays offering the last berth in the quarterfinals.

“Coming into this series (two straight games against Talk n Text), Asi and I really wanted to kill them,” said Telan.

“Nothing personal. I wish my former bosses the best but I want to prove (something to them),” said Taulava.

Getting severe beating from their former teammates, the Pals, the top seeds in the wildcard round, suffered back-to-back losses to the Tigers in a big reversal that sent them to the sidelines together with the Welcoat Dragons.

“Honestly, I’m still not sure what kind of team we really are. What I’ve been telling the boys is we just always come out with our hearts out and see what happens,” said Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis.

One thing sure, though, is that Taulava has given the Tigers a tremendous boost.

Coca-Cola has gone 6-5 since the arrival of the 6-foot-10 Fil-Tongan behemoth. The Tigers went 1-7 in the tourney before the Taulava-Ali Peek trade.

Rookie Ronjay Buenafe scored all of his six points in the last three minutes in helping preserve Telan’s and Taulava’s exploits in the contest.

In the nightcap, Air21 dethroned title-holder Barangay Ginebra, 119-110, setting up another knockout duel with Coca-Cola for the last slot in the quarterfinals.

Wynne Arboleda scored a career-high 32 points that went with 10 rebounds while Ranidel de Ocampo contributed 29 points including a big trey in the closing seconds to lead the Express past the Kings in a high-scoring do-or-die game.

“This is a big stepping stone but we have to pull through Sunday. Otherwise, this wouldn’t mean anything,” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol.

The Pals trailed from start to finish but came into the game in the closing minutes, getting within two points twice at 71-73 and 73-75 largely through the heroics of Mark Cardona and Ali Peek.

But the Tigers won’t be denied, holding the Pals scoreless in the last 2:30 of play.

Curiously, Talk n Text was held to its lowest outputs in the conference in its last two games against Coca-Cola.

The Tigers smothered the Pals, 101-85, Wednesday, denying them a playoff crack at an outright quarterfinals entry versus the Magnolia Beverage Masters.

Coca-Cola kept Talk n Text in check for the second straight game last night to send the Pals out of the tourney.

NOTES: Red Bull’s Carlo Sharma and Purefoods’ Jondan Salvador were severely sanctioned for their fracas Wednesday. Sharma was suspended for one game and fined P25,000 while Salvador was meted a one-game suspension plus a P20,000 fine. The Red Bull center got the stiffer sanction for instigating the fight…Barangay Ginebra has taken veteran player Vic Pablo from the free agent pool. Ginebra was actually the same team that picked the former FEU star No. 2 overall behind Jun Limpot in the 1993 rookie draft. Pablo, however, opted out and went on to spend his first 14 years in the league with Pepsi, San Miguel, Shell and Talk n Text. “We’re (former Talk n Text stars) pretty spread out now. We’re here (still in contention) and look where they are now,” said Taulava