MANILA, 26 May 2008 — There’s always a first time, even for a team struggling so much and one that has all the tools to keep winning.

And most especially, for players who have underachieved in the recent past.

Alaska last night won a third straight game for the first time after ripping Talk ‘N Text, 110-98, as the Phone Pals dropped consecutive games “also for the first time” in the eliminations of the Fiesta Cup that promises to be increasingly muddled as the weeks pass.

Larry Fonacier and LA Tenorio, young turks whom coach Tim Cone traded for while giving up cornerstone Mike Cortez, played to their true potential also for the first time in Alaska uniforms as the Aces improved to 5-6.

Tenorio scattered 19 points and Fonacier, a former Rookie of the Year winner, added 14 to help import Randy Holcomb in hurting the Phone Pals, who dropped to 7-5 and out of their share of the lead with idle Red Bull and Coca-Cola. “It’s really hard to describe how better they are playing now,” said Cone of Tenorio and Fonacier, former Blue Eagles of Ateneo in the UAAP who have never really blossomed into major factors in the Alaska rotation “until last night.”

Alaska put itself back in the mix with the win, its third straight in a two-week span, as the Aces, from looking like doomed defending champions, are again playing with the angst that made then thwart powerhouse Talk ‘N Text in seven games last year for the title.

Randy Holcomb scored 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as the Aces, even after almost losing a 19-point lead, went on to go all the way and post the wire-to-wire win.

Aaron McGhee led the Phone Pals with 24 and Ren-Ren Ritualo, in his first truly worthy game of the tournament, chipped in with 16.

Those 16 Ritualo points all came in the second quarter, when the Phone Pals came charging back from a 41-22 deficit to pull within 44-45 at the turn.

Teams are now closely bunched up in the standings with what had transpired the past week as the battle for outright spots in the playoffs heated up some more, especially now that Barangay Ginebra climbed out of the cellar for the first time.

The Gin Kings, after getting 39 points from Mark Caguioa, outlasted Air21, 97-92, Saturday night in Zamboanga, to improve to 3-7 and ease idle Welcoat down in the standings. Purefoods also rose, climbing to a level 5-5 card after humbling reigning Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia, 82-74, in the second game at the Cuneta Astrodome last night.

The Tender Juicy Giants tied the idle Beverage Masters and the 7-4 cards being held by the Barako and the Tigers are now only two full games ahead of those in the middle of the 10-team pack and very manageable at this point.