MANILA, 1 June 2004 — Coca-Cola trounced Shell 116-87 on Sunday to remain in the hunt for an outright quarterfinals berth in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

But the loss cost 10-8 Red Bull a lot since it was relegated to No. 5 at the end of the eliminations and a knockout game with the eighth-placed Turbo Chargers in the wild card phase.

Coca-Cola finished the eliminations with an 11-7 card, tying idle Talk N' Text and Alaska. By virtue of a higher quotient, however, the Aces and Tigers will square off in a one-game sudden-death tomorrow for the second outright quarterfinals berth.

The Phone Pals will have to settle for the No. 4 finish and a twice-to-beat advantage against ninth-placed FedEx in the next round.

With their backs against the wall, the Tigers unleashed their usual fiery form in a game that mattered most to strengthen their bid of a possible playoff crack for the other quarterfinals berth.

"Coming into this game, we didn't care about the second game. We're more concerned about our game," said Coke head coach Chot Reyes who had an interesting verbal tussle with Sanford as the team trooped to the lockers at half-time.

"In fact, I'm excited about this game because we're picking up. We don't mind if we play for the No. 2 or for the twice-to-beat advantage. We'll just continue upping our game," Reyes added.

Reyes had a mouthful on Sanford after the latter took a hurried shot with still nine seconds left in the first half.

Sanford made up for his boo-boo by anchoring the break-away in the second half to finish with 39 points, 11 rebounds and four assists despite playing with hurting knees.

"It's just mind over matter," said Sanford who re-injured his right knee at 2:13 in the first quarter after a bad landing in a rebound play.

"I hope I'm doing the right thing by sticking with him," said Reyes, who also drew solid games from five Coke local players led by Rob Wainwright and Rafi Reavis, who had 15 points apiece.

Rudy Hatfield, in just his second game in the tournament, posted a near triple-double game with 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, a clear indication that he had fully recovered from his foot injury.

Ato Morano, reactivated from the injury list, contributed 12 markers while Johnny Abarrientos had 11 points and six assists for the Tigers.

The Tigers broke the game wide open in the last seven and a half minutes of the third period behind the 11-point out of Sanford in that period and limited Shell to just 10 points. Coke entered the final canto with an 89-65 cushion.

Shell ended its elimination campaign with 7-11 mark alongside Barangay Ginebra, but the Kings have a superior quotient over the Turbo Chargers to claim the No. 7 spot in the wildcard phase.

In the nightcap, Red Bull were not as fortunate as Coca-Cola as the Barakos failed to match San Miguel Beer's firepower and absorbed a 132-123 lashing.

The win, their 16th in 18 games, mattered little for the Beermen, who have long been assured of the first automatic quarterfinals berth.

"I did not expect to be 16-2. Our target is really to be among the top two. But I'm surprised to be here and have 16 wins," said San Miguel head coach Jong Uichico who had seven players in double figures in scoring led by Art Long's 35 points.

The scores:

First Game:

Coke 116 - Sanford 39, Wainwright 15, Reavis 15, Hatfield 12, Morano 12, Abarrientos 11, Juinio 8, Hugnatan 2, Avenido 2, Cariaso 0; Shell 87 - Watkins 87, Dela Cruz 23, Bajar 11, Alvarez 6, Tubid 6, Mamaril 2, Hrabak 2, Calaguio 2, Sta. Maria 0, Marzan 0, Jackson 0. Quarterscores: 32-23, 52-44, 89-65, 116-87.

Second Game:

San Miguel 132 - Long 35, Seigle 21, Belasco 17, Racela 15, Hontiveros 14, Pena 12, Ildefonso 10, Singson 6, Gahol 2, Malabanan 0, Mente 0.

Red Bull 123 - Thomas 28, Harp 19, Villanueva 16, Pennisi 15, Asaytono 14, Valenzuela 10, Torion 7, Lopez 5, Ordonio 3, Robinson 2, se 2, Tugade 2. Quarterscores: 33-34, 70-66, 100-88, 132-123.