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Talk ’N
Text coach Derrick Pumaren isn’t exactly happy with
their situation. But at least, he said, “we’re still in
control of our immediate goal.”
With the
two coveted semifinal berths secured by Purefoods and
Sta. Lucia Realty, making the quarterfinals is the Phone
Pals’ goal in a Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Cup campaign that has been a virtual
roller-coaster ride.
There’s
no question the Phone Pals know where they stand and
they understand the complexity of their position. They
demonstrated it on Sunday with an overpowering
performance against defending champion Barangay Ginebra
Kings in a 104-87 blowout that strengthened the Phone
Pals bid in the homestretch.
With a
9-8 (win-loss) record, TnT is hard-pressed to win their
last scheduled game at the close of the elimination
round today.
Standing
in the way of the Phone Pals’ goal are ex-Phone Pals
star center Asi Taulava and the Coca-Cola Tigers, so
Pumaren has cautioned his troops to brace themselves for
a stiff challenge.
“This
game won’t make any difference for Coke. But I expect
this to be a hell of a game considering that we’ll be
facing Asi for the first time since the big trade. At
least we’re still in control of our goal,” Pumaren
offered.
Talk ’N
Text parted ways with Taulava after eight seasons by
dealing the six-foot-nine Fil-Tongan to Coca-Cola on
November 27 in exchange for Ali Peek, a silent but
hardworking center-forward with a mean defense and soft
touch from the perimeter.
Taulava
admitted the trade caught him by surprise, something
that he found difficult to grapple with. He promised to
get some payback when he plays his former team.
Obviously, Coca-Cola has the ability to spoil TnT’s
mission if only Taulava can come out with the same type
of energy when he led the Tigers to five straight
victories.
Noticeably, Taulava has slowed down a bit as the Tigers
lost their last three games, certainly something the
Phone Pals can seek to exploit.
The TnT-Coca-Cola
encounter is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. at the Cuneta
Astrodome. It follows the
4:50 p.m. match pitting Red Bull against semifinalist-in-waiting
Purefoods.
“Whether
Asi is there or not, we just have to come out and be
ready for Coke. There’s still some business to be done,”
Pumaren said.
A loss
by the Phone Pals will send them automatically into the
wild-card phase along with Coca-Cola, Air21 and Barangay
Ginebra.
A win by
the Phone Pals, regardless if Red Bull wins or loses in
the second game, sets up a one-game playoff between them
and Magnolia for the third and last automatic
quarterfinal berth. |
