INQUIRER Sports

MARK CARDONA SIZZLED for a season-high 40 points as Talk ?N Text completed a stirring comeback from 30 points down to pummel Burger King, 118-105, Friday night in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

?They didn?t fold, they didn?t quit,? said Talk ?N Text coach Chot Reyes of his defending champion Tropang Texters, who ended the first round of eliminations with a 6-3 record.

Given up for dead after trailing 19-49 in the second period, the Tropang Texters showed remarkable resiliency to hack out one of the biggest comebacks in league history.

The rally surpassed the one pulled off by Purefoods, which climbed out of a 29-point third-quarter hole to beat Alaska, 86-84, in overtime in October 2005.

The Whoppers closed out the first round with a 3-6 slate.

Apparently frustrated by his team?s poor start, Ranidel de Ocampo was ejected from the game after committing a flagrant foul penalty 2 on Chico Lanete late in the second quarter.

Whoppers coach Yeng Guiao was also slapped with a technical foul for shouting invectives at De Ocampo.

Meanwhile, Coca Cola, which was playing Barangay Ginebra as of presstime, elevated assistant coach Bo Perasol to head coach, replacing Kenneth Duremdes, who was named as the team?s alternate governor.

Action shifts to Surigao del Norte today as Sta. Lucia battles Purefoods. The 5 p.m. showdown, presented by Phoenix Fuel and organized by Lyndon Barbers, is the last game of the first round.

Tagline: Cedelf P. Tupas

The scores:
First Game
SMART-GILAS 109?Tiu 24, Aguilar 19, Ababou 18, Al-Hussaini 15, Barroca 12, Ramos 8, Baracael 5, Casio 3, Ballesteros 3, Cawaling 2.

SAN MIGUEL 96?Santos 23, Tugade 13, Pena 11, Racela 10, Miranda 9, Pennisi 8, Villanueva 7, Eman 7, Hontiveros 5, Calaguio 3.
Quarters: 34-22, 59-46, 83-73, 109-96

Second Game
TALK ?N TEXT 118?Cardona 40, Alapag 15, Peek 13, De Ocampo R 10, De Ocampo Y 10, Castro 9, Escobal 9, Dillinger 6, Carey 4, Ritualo 2, Isip 0, Belasco 0.

BURGER KING 105?David 24, Buenafe 15, Belga 14, Sharma 10, Lanete 9, Yee R 8, Matias 7, Yee M 5, Quinahan 5, Williams 4, Aban 4, Billiones 0.
Quarters: 17-38, 53-63, 87-84, 118-105