MANILA, Philippines - Asi Taulava knocked in a turnaround shot with 1.8 seconds left and Coca-Cola closed the playoffs door on Barako Bull with a 91-89 squeaker in the penultimate play date of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup elimination phase at the Astrodome last night.
The Tigers nearly blew away a 20-point spread but Taulava came to their rescue, saving the day and giving the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters a free lift to the wild card round.
Finishing with a 6-12 win-loss card on a three-game closing romp in the elims, the Tigers set up a wild card confrontation with the Burger King Whoppers.
The other wild card pairing pits Rain or Shine against either Purefoods, Talk n Text or Sta. Lucia Realty.
“That’s not the ending we’d like to happen. We wanted a game that would’ve helped us prepare for the playoffs,” said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol, unhappy they squandered a huge lead and barely pulled through on Taulava’s endgame heroic.
“We’re not able to sustain the momentum. We didn’t show a killer’s instinct. We didn’t have that mentality that we have to be sharp going up against anybody,” Perasol added.
The Tigers will be back in action at the start of the playoff phase either Sunday or Wednesday.
Taulava was the Tigers’ hero, scoring the game-winning shot to cap another double-double game with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
The 6-foot-9 behemoth himself was the biggest factor in Coca-Cola’s strong finish in the elims. The Tigers have gone 5-2 since Taulava’s return from a foot injury.
Burger King foiled Alaska Milk’s second shot at an outright semifinal entry as the Whoppers stunned the Aces, 87-80, in the nightcap.
“It’s a good way to close out our elims. It’s also a big morale-booster for our wild card series. I’m still very hopeful of our chances. We’re two wins away from the quarterfinals although we’re also a loss away from a long vacation,” said BK coach Yeng Guiao.