MANILA, 21 January 2007 — The tiebreakers were almost boring.
Red Bull and Talk ‘N Text notched second straight victories in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals last night, moving within another win of eliminating separate foes after overpowering performances at the Ynares Center.
The Barako were able to jump out of the gates hard for the first time in the series, and the result was a 114-96 blowout of Sta. Lucia, for a 2-1 series lead.
Talk ‘N Text, meanwhile, got 15 points in the fourth quarter from streak-shooting Ren-Ren Ritualo as the Phone Pals turned what was a close game into a ghastly 102-78 rout for a similar advantage.
“The situation (in the series) is turning for the better for the team,” Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao said.
Sta. Lucia, after playing four games in an eight-day stretch to survive the wild card phase, won the series opener after building a 28-point first half lead.
But with injuries to key men and that schedule they had to hurdle, Guiao believes that the Realtors are ripe for the picking, with the potential series-clinching fourth game scheduled at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Membrere hit two consecutive three-pointers that touched off a decisive Red Bull run, as the Barako broke away from a 57-48 game for 71-50 that all but took the fight out of the fagged Realtors.
Recent statistics are also kind to the Barako and the Phone Pals, with 17 of the last 24 teams ever to take a 2-1 lead after a 1-1 tie going on to win the best-of-five series.
Junethy Valenzuela chipped in with 16 points, while Cyrus Baguio provided the spark to that hot start by shooting 10 of his 14. Larry Fonacier, last season’s top rookie, was good for 12 markers and Membrere 11.
“We have an opportunity to finish this series and we will definitely take it (on Sunday),” Talk ‘N Text coach Derrick Pumaren said.
Game 4s of both series are set tomorrow at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, with Red Bull and the Phone Pals going to their respective assignments as the overwhelming favorites to close out their foes.
Purefoods failed to pounce on the absence of Jimmy Alapag, who served out a one-game suspension for fighting with Paul Artadi on Wednesday. The starting Talk ‘N Text guard was also ordered to pay a P20,000 fine.
Instead, it was Purefoods which suffered a loss, as Marc Pingris twisted his right ankle so bad in the second period that it required an emergency trip to a nearby hospital. He will likely be out for the remainder of the series.
From a 57-all game late in the third period, Talk ‘N Text got Ritualo and Mac Cardona hitting their shots at will as the Phone Pals broke the game wide open with leads of as many as 29 points.
Ritualo hit two straight triples and Cardona had two baskets to open up the fourth quarter and the Giants were never able to recover after falling behind by 14 with just over a minute gone in the period.
