Though assured of a twice-to-beat advantage, the Phone Pals refused to relax, playing without letup as they ended their elims on a winning note, catching the Red Bull Thunder on top on identical 7-2 win-loss cards. The Piltel franchise gained the top seeding in the quarters, though, on the win-over-the-other rule.
Mobiline closed out with a win-loss percentage of .778 – the franchise’s new mark, eclipsing its previous best of .688 (11-5) recorded in the 1998 All-Filipino with a team built around Jeffrey Cariaso and Andy Seigle.
Once again emerging as a title contender with practically a new team under new coach Louis Alas, Mobiline seeks a slot in the semifinal round either against Barangay Ginebra, Sta. Lucia Realty, San Miguel Beer or Pop Cola.
"We knew we can afford to relax but everybody said ‘no way.’ We wanted to win and I believe this win will serve as a big mental reinforcement for us going into the quarterfinals," said Alas.
Asked which team he prefers to play in the next round, Alas said: "Whichever. We’ll just prepare hard because we know we can’t afford to be complacent. Kahit sino diyan pwedeng manalo."
With Mobiline rolling past Alaska, Purefoods assured itself of a twice-to-beat incentive although it will still go up against Tanduay Rhum at the close of the elims tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.
Tanduay gains the last slot in the Magic Four if it beats Purefoods. A loss by Tanduay allows Alaska to salvage the important spot in the Top Four.
The Aces faced the specter of losing a twice-to-beat advantage for the first time since the format was introduced last year as they bowed to the Phone Pals with their three stars in Kenneth Duremdes, Johnny Abarrientos and Bong Hawkins all outplayed by their counterparts.
Jherome Ejercito, Bong Ravena and Vic Pablo showed up Abarrientos, Duremdes and Hawkins, each one firing 16 points or more as they combined for more than half of Mobiline’s total output.
The three also pulled down 17 rebounds and issued nine assists together as they gave Todd Bernard a big support in the contest they dominated in the final half.
Duremdes, Abarrientos and Hawkins all finished with double-digit outputs but the bulk of the production came when the Mobiline was already in full control of the game.