PAMPANGA -- A rejuvenated Pop Cola squad proved too much for Red Bull, and yet another loss likewise proved too much for the Energizers that they finally kissed goodbye their aspiration in their initial campaign in the pro league.
Pop Cola played the executioner's role on Red Bull as the 800s easily turned back the Energizers, 87-72, in their road game in the Alaxan PBA All-Filipino Cup at the Bren Guiao Convention Center here.
The 800s tore the Energizers apart right in the first half with one big run after another as Nelson Asaytono and Jojo Lastimosa led Pop Cola to its longest winning streak in a long, long while, allowing it to climb to fifth place in a tie with Shell Velocity and Sta. Lucia Realty at 5-6.
Red Bull bowed out of contention for the quarterfinals on its 11th loss against a lone win.
Pop Cola booked its third straight win and is now in prime shape to make it to the upper half of the quarterfinal draw, now being just half-game behind fourth placer Purefoods, which is at 5-5.
"Coming into this game, I was a bit apprehensive because the first time we won two straight games, we then lost four consecutive games," said Pop Cola coach Chot Reyes. "The key tonight was we found the level that we're supposed to play in."
"We played on the same level that we were in when we played against Tanduay and Purefoods. Right now, I'm glad that I know we have the ability to do that."
Pop Cola was unforgiving, playing solid on both ends as it took a lead of as many as 31 points several times in the third period.
So disgusted -- if not embarrassed -- was Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao that he refused to call the shots in the second half, letting his assistant Rhoel Nadurata do the coaching.
Meanwhile, Mobiline plays Sta. Lucia Realty and Shell Velocity clashes with Purefoods in the Palm Sunday offering of the tournament at the Araneta Coliseum today.