BURGER King ended its elimination campaign on a high note after beating Pharex, 69-65, in the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup yesterday at the Gov. Ayong Maliksi Gym in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

The victory cemented the Whoppers’ hold of the No. 3 spot in the quarterfinals and towed San Mig Coffee to the No. 4 spot for the twice-to-beat incentive.

In the second game, Hapee Toothpaste avenged its first-round loss to Harbour Centre after pulling off an impressive 86-75 win to end its elimination campaign with a 10-5 mark.

The game had no bearing because both teams are already seeded first and second in the semifinals. The Batang Pier, after starting the tournament with 12 straight wins, have lost two of their last three games but still finished the prelims with a league-best 13-2 slate.

Burger King ended its elimination round with 9-6 slate, while the Medics, the Coffee Kings and Toyota all ended up in a three-way logjam at 7-8 each but San Mig Coffee had the better quotient to clinch the bonus.

By finishing third, the Whoppers got the privilege of choosing their opponent in the quarters, and head coach Allan Gregorio opted to meet Pharex anew on Monday in Tanauan, Batangas.

“We will go for Pharex since they are in the playoffs for the first time, while Toyota is a veteran team and has playoff experience,” said Gregorio, whose wards were already assured of the incentive prior to the game.

“And also, we have beaten them four in a row, that’s why we selected them,” Gregorio added.

Burger King’s mastery over Pharex almost ended yesterday as the Medics took a 52-44 lead late in the third quarter and had the full control of the game.

But the Whoppers slowly trimmed down the advantage and took a 59-58 edge on a basket by Burger King forward Nestor David and threatened to pull away with a 65-60 advantage.

The Medics refused to surrender as Ronnie Matias hit a surprise three-pointer and Francis Allera followed it up with a jumper to tie the score at 65-all with less than two minutes left.

Khiel Misa provided the biggest defensive play of the game after stealing the ball from Sean Co for a break-away lay-up to shatter the deadlock, 67-65, 17.7 ticks left.

Ronnie Bughao tried to win the game for the Medics, but his two attempts from the three-point area misfired and Misa completed his heroics by going two-of-four from the free-throw line to peg the final score.

Mike Bravo led the Whoppers with 15 points, while Marcy Arellano and David chipped in 12 and 10, respectively. Iana Saladaga topped all scorers with 17 for the Medics, while Bughao was a big disappointment, finishing only with four markers.

Thanks for the memories, Suns…

…Or maybe that Shaquille O’Neal deal really wasn’t such a good idea.

Not that all us skeptics were saying that when they won 15 of their last 20 and ran over the Spurs in San Antonio and coach Gregg Popovich said they were the hottest team in the West.

RP-Nokia 5, Franz expecting worse

KUALA LUMPUR—The Philippines was to meet host Malaysia late Thursday and what kept head coach Franz Pumaren worried was that he would be going to a war zone aware of the possible scenarios, but not about how strong or weak the enemy would be.

THE Ginebra Gin Kings will try to score their first win this tournament as they go up against a similarly struggling Purefoods TJ Giants tonight in the ongoing elimination round of the Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference.

BURGER King ended its elimination campaign on a high note after beating Pharex, 69-65, in the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup yesterday at the Gov. Ayong Maliksi Gym in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

SO David Diaz is insisting Manny Pacquiao will be his biggest fight ever? Ask Team Pacquiao and they will tell you this will also be the Filipino fighter’s toughest challenge to date.

FIVE more Filipino swimmers will attempt to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

Philippine Amateur Swimming Association president Mark Joseph said that female swimmers Erika Totten, Marichi Gadiongco, Jackie Pangilinan and Denjylie Cordero, and lone male tanker Kendrick Uy will compete in various meets in the US, particularly in the Janet Evans International Meet at the University of South California this June.

MAGIC Millions managing director David Chester is arriving on Monday and will personally invite local horsemen to join the highly successful June National Sales, considered to be the biggest horse auction in the northern hemisphere today, from June 2 to 16 at the Gold Coast.