MANILA, 5 January 2008 — Alaska asked for help and Barangay Ginebra was only too willing to oblige.

The Aces clinched a quarterfinal berth and then stayed in the running for a Final Four seat in the Philippine Cup last night after ripping Talk ‘N Text, 102-92, and benefiting from a victory by the Gin Kings over Red Bull at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Reigning Most Valuable Player Willie Miller scored 23 points and Reynel Hugnatan drilled in 10 of his 15 in the third period where the Aces took control to win for the second straight night and improve to 10-7.

With one game to go, against Purefoods next Sunday, the Aces don’t exactly have their fates in their hands and would need to see losses from Red Bull and the streaking Sta. Lucia Realtors to have a chance at advancing to the semifinals outright.

“Oh, we need some help, that’s for sure,” coach Tim Cone said. “We can’t do it ourselves. We need somebody to beat Sta. Lucia and Red Bull, because our chances (of making the semifinals outright) are slim at this point.” The Gin Kings, on the other hand, resumed its drive to make the playoffs outright by nipping Red Bull, 115-110, in the second game to practically oust the Barako from the Final Four race.

Ginebra blew early control and had to rally from 13 points down at the half for one of its more impressive wins in the tournament, which now put the Kings at 8-9 and possibly within another win of earning at least a playoff for the No. 5 spot.

Tournament format calls for the top two teams to make the semifinals outright, with the next three to advance to the quarterfinals automatically. Numbers 6 to 9 will then fall into a wildcard phase, with only the top team after two knockout playdates to march on to the quarterfinals.

In the wildcard, team No. 6 battles team No. 9 and No. 7 and No. 8 also clash in KO matches with the winners advancing for the right to battled No. 3 in the first round of the playoffs.

“It’s a longshot, but at least we still have a shot,” Ginebra’s Jong Uichico, after getting 29 points, six rebounds and seven assists from Jay-Jay Helterbrand, said. “Right now our only focus is to get to nine (wins) and hope to land in a playoff (for the No, 5 slot) at the least.

“Otherwise, we will have to do it the hard way by playing in the wildcard.”

Eric Menk scattered 24 points, had 12 rebounds and four assists, while Mark Macapagal scored a string of five straight points which broke the game’s last tie at 99 to finish with 15 for the night.

As it is, idle Purefoods has earned at least a playoff with its 11-4 card and will have three shots at nailing that all-important 12th win for an automatic semifinal berth, The Realtors, which has won its last six games, is in second with a 10-6 slate and could earn at least a tie for the second semifinal slot with a win against either Purefoods or Air21.

Alaska, meanwhile, even if it wins over the Tender Juicy Giants, could most likely fall into a tie and would need to go into a knockout match.

“Oh, we need some help, that’s for sure,” coach Tim Cone said. “We can’t do it ourselves. We need somebody to beat Sta. Lucia and Red Bull, because our chances (of making the semifinals outright) are slim at this point.”

The Aces easily overhauled a one-point first quarter deficit, taking command in the second period behind Miller before completely blowing the Phone Pals off the court in the third with a 20-point lead, 79-59.

And that was all Alaska needed, as it thwarted numerous comebacks by the rock-solid Phone Pals, who went down to 8-8 and practically out of the semifinal race.

For Talk ‘N Text, it would need to win its remaining games, against Barangay Ginebra and Coca-Cola, to assure itself of safe passage into the quarterfinals.

“I think they (Phone Pals) are evolving right now with Asi (Taulava) out of their lineup,” Cone explained. . “Come playoff time, you wouldn’t want to be playing Talk ‘N Text.”