Cola Tigers buried the Barangay Ginebra Kings deeper into the cellar Friday night with an 82-81 squeaker in the PBA Fiesta Conference played at the Araneta Coliseum. The Kings could have scored their first win but Mark Caguioa's potential game-winning fastbreak layup was nullified as time expired before the ball left his hand. The win propelled the Tigers into solo lead of the conference with a 4-1 win-loss slate while pushing the Kings to the bottom in the company of idle Welcoat Dragons, both winless in four games. Down by 11, 67-78, the Kings went on a 14-4 tear that nearly upended the Tigers. Ginebra gained a chance to steal the game when Ronjay Buenafe missed a running jumper with three seconds left to play and Coca-Cola holding a precarious 82-81 lead. Jayjay Helterbrand got the loose ball and threw an outlet pass to a streaking Caguioa who went on to convert an untouched lay-up. After the mandatory review of the play, the referees, however, waived off the basket to the dismay of Ginebra's legions of fans. The fourth straight loss marked Ginebra's worst start in a conference since it lost its five games in the 2000 Commissioner's Cup. In his first game for Ginebra, Junthy Valenzuela chipped in with six points, two assists, two blocks, a steal and a rebound.Talk 'N Text 115, Sta. Lucia 113 Spearheaded by Jimmy Alapag and Mac Cardona, the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals stunned Sta. Lucia Realty 115-113 in the curtain-raiser of Friday's PBA Fiesta Cup. Alapag scored all of his 18 points in the third while Cardona had 14 of his team-high 35 points as the Phone Pals bounced back from an 86-91 defeat to Magnolia last Sunday. Alapag's 18 points in a single quarter was the highest so far for a local player this conference. The win was the third in five games for Talk 'N Text while the loss was the first for Sta. Lucia in four games. The Phone Pals sustained their fiery run in the fourth quarter, stopping whatever rally the Realtors tried to mount. Talk 'N Text led by 13 points, 35-22, early in the second period. However, Sta. Lucia came back and even led 80-75 on a three-pointer by Kelly Williams with 3:43 left in the third frame. Then Talk 'N Text unleashed a 15-4 run to take a 90-84 lead entering the final period. The last time the Realtors threatened was when Dennis Espino made a pair of free throws that sliced the lead to one, 96-97, with 7:59 to play. But Cardona and Ali Peek took turns in nailing timely shots down the stretch as the Phone Pals kept their opponent at bay.The scores: Talk 'N Text 115 - Cardona 35, McGhee 29, Alapag 18, Peek 8, Washington 7, Belano 6, Carey 5, Allado 5, aljamal 2, Chia 0, Ritualo 0, De Ocampo 0. Sta. Lucia 113 – Wilson 29, Williams 24, Miranda 15, Yeo 13, Reyes 10, Espino 8, Aquino 5, Mendoza 5, Coronel 2, Omolon 2, Daa 0, Gonzales 0. Quarters: 31-22, 53-56, 90-84, 115-113. Coca-Cola 82 – Dixon 18, Taulava 17, Gervin 14, Buenafe 8, Dimaunahan 8, Macapagal 6, Cabagnot 5, Telan 3, Belasco 3, Enrile 0. Barangay Ginebra 81 – Caguioa 30, Brown 17, Helterbrand 9, Tubid 6, Valenzuela 6, Mamaril 5, Crisano 4, Pablo 4, Pacana 0, Salvacion 0. Quarters: 18-20, 35-38, 58-64, 82-81. __
