THE drama and emotions in the best-of-five quarterfinals will be settled in the hard court today as Talk ‘N Text battles Ginebra, while Purefoods takes on Rain or Shine in a do-or-die showdown of the 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)-KFC Philippine Cup at the Araneta Colisuem. As of press time, the fate of defending champion Talk ‘N Text remains uncertain as team manager Virgil Villavicencio awaits the decision of top honchos Manny Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas to play.

But Villavicencio, who replaced Frankie Lim as manager just recently, said that should he will be asked, he will recommend the top-level management to allow the team to play.

The Talk ‘N Text management somehow expressed disgust on the refusal of commissioner Sonny Barrios to lift the automatic one-game suspension on the 6’5 forward Ranidel de Ocampo.

Besides upholding the suspension, Barrios likewise slapped a P20,000 penalty on the Tanza, Cavite-born de Ocampo.

“Basically, we will uphold the flagrant penalty-2 foul of Ranidel. Therefore, he cannot play tomorrow. We listened to the concerns of Talk ‘N Text on the officiating. We are hoping and praying that they will decide to play. I’m sure their fans are waiting for that decision. We are professionals anyway,” said Barrios after yesterday’s meeting with team officials and de Ocampo himself at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

Barrios also said the PBA board has not yet decided on the walk-out scenario, saying what is important at the moment is Game 5 of the quarterfinals, and the case of de Ocampo, a fourth overall pick by FedEx in 2004.

“No decision yet on the walkout because what is important is to settle at the moment is that of Ranidel.
As sportsmen, they accepted the decision but not necessarily agreed on it. I hope they will play,” added Barrios.

Both the Tropang Texters and the Kings as well as the Giants and Elasto Painters are bearing similar 2-2 win-loss card in the best-of-five quarterfinals.

The winner between Talk ‘N Text and Ginebra—will face top seed Alaska, while the victor in the Purefoods-Rain or Shine battle will earn the right to meet second seed San Miguel Beer in the best-of-seven semifinal round starting on Wednesday.

Coach Chot Reyes of Talk ‘N Text told his players to leave the court in protest over the decision of referee Throngy Aldaba in giving de Ocampo a heavy flagrant two foul after sending Ronald Tubid to the floor with just a minute left in the first quarter and the Kings were ahead, 27-20.

The walkout incident was not the first in the league. The then Anejo Rhum now known as Barangay Ginebra under playing coach Robert Jaworski Sr. did it in Game 6 of the 1990 First Conference finals against Formula Shell, which meted a penalty of P500,000.

Then Red Bull also did the same during the 2006 Philippine Cup semifinals against San Miguel Beer.

--FRANK CALAPRE

The Manila Times