Talk N' Text Phone Pals
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| Talk N' Text Phone Pals | |
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| Joined | 1996 |
| History | Pepsi Mega 1990-1996 7-Up Uncolas 1992-1993 Mobliline Cellulars 1996-1997 Mobliline Phone Pals 1997-01 Talk N' Text Phone Pals 2001-present |
| Team colors | Blue and yellow |
| Company | Pilipino Telephone Corporation |
| Head coach | Derrick Pumaren |
| Championships | 1 (2003 All-Filipino) 1998 Centennial Cup (Special tournament) |
The Talk N' Text Phone Pals is a Philippine Basketball Association team. It is headed by coach Derrick Pumaren.
Pepsi Philippines of the Lorenzo family, was granted an expansion franchise prior to the 1990 PBA season. The Pepsi Bottlers also used the names 7-Up Bottlers and Pepsi Mega in their campaigns, netting no championships.
In 1996, telecommunications company Pilipino Telephone bought the franchise and renamed it the Mobiline Phone Pals. After being absorbed by Smart Communications in 2001, the team was again renamed, this time as the Talk N' Text Phone Pals, after a prepaid cellular brand. They have since won a number of championships and remains as one of the league's powerhouses.
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[edit] History
[edit] Under the Pepsi brand
Pepsi Mega was accepted as one of two new members of the PBA during the 1990, joining softdrink rival Pop Cola. During its first season, Pepsi won only two games out of the 30 games. Import Derrick Hamilton had 77 and 78 point games from the stretch of February 17 and March 1.
In 1991, Pepsi became a competitive team, taking fourth place in the Third Conference.
In 1992, they were known as the 7-Up Uncolas, one of the brands which Pepsi (Philippines) bottled and marketed in the Philippines.
7-Up would place runner-up in the 1992 Third Conference. Their import was an NBA veteran point guard bythe name of Delano Delps. They would be swept by the Swift Mighty Meaties led by Tonny Harris in the finals 4-0. [1] Seven-Up was also bannered by players Manny Victorino, Abet Guidaben, Eugene Quilban and Naning Valenciano. Quilban recorded 28 assists during a game that year, which is still a PBA record.
The team reverted back to Pepsi Mega, and also used the 7-Up name at one point. Pepsi placed fourth in the 1993 Govenor's Cup and a third-place finish in the 1994 Governors Cup with import Ronnie Coleman.
Pepsi's on and off performance continued in 1995, despite a strong start in the Governor's Cup, in which they had a 5-2 win-loss card but never took home a trophy at the end of the tournament.
[edit] Mobiline Cellulars
Before the Commissioner's Cup of the 1996 season, Pepsi Mega was renamed as the Mobiline Cellulars, a product of communications company Piltel. There is some confusion or lack of information on how the team was renamed from a softdrink product to a cellphone brand. One fan from MYPBA.com explained his own take.
- My opinion is that the Piltel franchise came to be only in 1996 even if then Pepsi owner Luis "Moro" Lorenzo was somehow a stockholder of Piltel. My recollection is that when Mobiline became the "new name" of Pepsi Mega, it was Choy Cojuangco who was already running the basketball operations of the team. He then eventually turned the reins over to his brother (?) Tonyboy who thereafter, sold his shares to Manny Pangilinan and the Metro Pacific Group.[2]
The team still retained the lineage of the old Pepsi teams in the past as prove in the Official PBA Annual, Hardcourt, in which the win-loss record of Pepsi from 1990-1995 are attached to the Mobiline teams.
The Cellulars retained the old Pepsi team with point guard Eugene Quilban leading the team. But the name change didn't help the Cellulars contend for the crown.
[edit] Mobiline Phone Pals
In 1997, Mobiline took the first overall pick of the draft and used it to draft Filipino-American Andrew John Seigle. The Cellulars also drafted Patrick Fran, Tony Boy Espinosa. Mobiline hired former San Miguel coach Norman Black and acquired 1995 Rookie of the Year Jeffrey Cariaso from Alaska.
In the All-Filipino, the Cellulars advanced to the semi-finals but faltered in the Commissioner's Cup with Isaish Morris as reinforcement. In the Governor's Cup, they paraded Artemus "Tee" McClary and hired a new coach in Derrick Pumaren and Tommy Manotoc as consultant. Mobiline posted a decent finish in the Governors Cup but failed to enter the semis.
In 1998, the Phone Pals struggled in the All-Filipino with a 4-7 record. In the Commissioner's Cup, another change was done as it hired former Purefoods mentor Eric Altamirano. The Pals, like in the '97 Governors Cup were eliminated in the quarterfinals with Terquin Mott as import.
[edit] Centennial Cup Champions
Andy Seigle and Jeffrey Cariaso were borrowed by the national team for the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. They captured the 1998 PBA Centennial (the Philippines was then celebrating it's 100th anniversary of the independence from Spain) Cup by beating Shell by a hairline, 67-66, in ovetime led by imports Silas Mills and McClary, with the help of veteran locals Glen Capacio and Al Solis. However, the Centennial Cup was a special tournament and the title was not considered as an official championship.
The records after the elimination round of the tournament was carried over in the Governor's Cup. The Pals retained their winning way and advanced to the finals in a rematch with the Zoom Masters. Mobiline held a 3-2 series lead but lost the last two games to wind up in second place. Mills would end up winning the Best Import of the Governors Cup.
[edit] Asi Taulava era
Seeking for bigger things in 1999, the Pals acquired Filipino-Tongan Paul Asi Taulava to man the Pals frontline along with Seigle. Mobiline started the All-Filipino with a 7-0 record before losing a crucial game to San Miguel. The Pals end up with the best record after the elimination phase but was defeated by a gritty Barangay Ginebra Kings squad despite a twice to beat advantage on Bal David's incredible last second shot.
The rest of the year, Mobiline would be eliminated in the quarters during the Commissioner's and Governor's Cup while Taulava's eligibility as a legitimate Filipino-foreigner was questioned. During the midseason, Mobiline traded Andy Seigle to Purefoods for veteran Jerry Codinera.
2000 saw some lineup change for the Phone Pals as it acquired Vic Pablo in the three-team trade that sent Jeffrey Cariaso to Tanduay and Mark Telan to Shell Velocity.
Taulava would be deported later in the year as the Pals were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the All-Filipino with new coach Louie Alas. The Pals wound up with the best record in the elimination phase of the Governor's Cup. After surviving a quarterfinals meeting with Barangay Ginebra, Purefoods eliminate Mobiline in four games. The Phone Pals finished 4th after losing to Batang Red Bull Thunder in a knockout game for third place.
[edit] Talk N'Text Phone Pals
In 2001, the Phone Pals tried to acquired Kenneth Duremdes through free agency but Alaska matched Mobiline's offersheet of a reported 48 million pesos and stayed with the Aces.
The Phone Pals drafted former Manila Metrostar Gilbert Demape but the Phone Pals, for the sixth time in seven conferences was eliminated by top seed Shell in the quarterfinals.
In the Commissioner's Cup, the Pals bannered Michigan University standout Jerod Ward who exploded for 61 points in his debut. Later, Taulava returned to the Philippines after an apporval by the Justice Department but despite that the Phone Pals failed to get past the quarterfinals. The Governor's Cup was also the same fate for the Phone Pals despite changing their name to Talk N' Text and having Brandon Williams as import.
[edit] Under foreign coaches
Before the 2002 season, Alas was fired by Talk N' Text and hired former UNLV coach Bill Bayno despite numerous calls by the nationalist Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines to ban the American mentor. Although they lost Asi Taulava and Patrick Fran to the National Pool, Talk N' Text was bannered by Richie Frahm and Jerald Honeycutt, a replacement for an original import. The Phone Pals end up as the top team in the elimination phase of the Governor's Cup but suffered the same fate as 1999 when the eighth seed San Miguel Beermen upset the Pals.
But Talk N' Text finally broke the spell in the Commissioner's Cup, led by Honeycutt and Pete Mickeal, the seventh seeded Phone Pals defeated Sta. Lucia in the quarterfinals and Alaska in a five game semis affair to enter their third Finals appearance in team history, and the first since 1998. In the end, Red Bull defeated Talk N' Text in seven grueling games.
Bayno later left the team, but without some parting shots on the PBA when he accused the league of favoring the San Miguel Corporation teams.
In the All-Filipino, Taulava returned to the team after his national team stint in the Asian Games but the Phone Pals got the early boot in the quarterfinals under new head coach Paul Woolpert, another American coach who replaced the departed Bill Bayno.
In 2003, the Phone Pals used two first round picks to draft Fil-Americans Harvey Carey and Jimmy Alapag, who was with the RP national pool in 2002. The Pals struggled early in the All-Filipino and midway to that tournament, Woolpert left the team and was replaced with Ateneo coach Joel Banal, who led the Blue Eagles to the UAAP title in 2002.
[edit] 2003 All-Filipino Championship
Since then, Talk N' Text rose to the tournament and captured the All-Filipino Cup over defending champion Coca-Cola in six games. After an overtime win in Game Five, the Phone Pals became the first team since 1982 to come back from a 0-2 deficit to win the next four games after a hard-fought Game Six victory. Taulava was named as the PBA Finals MVP, after winning the Best Player of the Conference award.
[edit] Post-championship era
They also qualified in the 2003 PBA Invitationals were four guest teams were invited. Joel Banal left the team for the moment to concentrate on the Ateneo Blue Eagles stint in the UAAP. The Pals did not qualify for the semis but not without controversy. Needing to win by eight points over Red Bull Barako to qualify, the Phone Pals deliberately fouled several Red Bull players in the last two minutes to force an overtime or even reached the needed eight point margin. The game turned out to be more disgraceful when Jojo Manalo tried to hit a three-pointer on Red Bull's basket. The incident led to a hefty fine and a five game suspension to acting coach Ariel Vanguardia.
In the revived Reinforced Conference, Talk N' Text was bannered by Damien Cantrell but the Phone Pals finished with a 7-6 mark, good for 4th place in Group B. They upset the top seeded Red Bull Barako 2-1 that ended with Jimwell Torion's clothesline on Jimmy Alapag's face that led to the latter's suspension for eight months, which was later reduced.
But in the semis, Talk N' Text was swept by eventual champions Coca-Cola, but the Phone Pals captured third place in the tournament after beating Sta Lucia in a one game playoff for third place.
Asi Taulava became the first Filipino-foreign player since Ricardo Brown in 1985 to win the coveted Most Valuable Player award. Jimmy Alapag won the Rookie of the Year honors to wrapped up the Phone Pals' incredible year.
[edit] 2004-05 season
Joel Banal resigned as Ateneo head coach to concentrate on the Talk N' Text team. In the 2004 Fiesta Conference, the Phone Pals were bannered by 2002 MVP Willie Miller and Yancy de Ocampo in separate deals with Red Bull and FedEx.
The Phone Pals made it to the semis of the tournament, but lost in a three-game showdown with crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra Kings.
In the 2004-05 Philippine Cup, the Phone Pals placed second in the classification phase to qualify for the semi-finals. The Phone Pals swept the Shell Turbo Chargers but was defeated in six games by Barangay Ginebra.
During the said tournament, Asi Taulava was considered by the Department of Justice as one of six Filipino-foreigners suspected of falsifying their documents. Taulava was suspended by the PBA indefinitely, along with five other players.
Taulava gained some advantage from the Quezon City RTC, but the PBA still hasn't give Taulava the go-signal. In the Finals of the Philippine Cup, the Phone Pals used Taulava despite the league's refusal to allow Taulava. Talk N' Text reasoned a court order that allows Asi to play in the series. The Phone Pals wound up winning Game One by double figures, but the game was forfeited two days later, awarding the win to Barangay Ginebra. The Phone Pals later announced that they will not allow Taulava to play for the rest of the series.
In the 2004-05 Fiesta Conference, the Phone Pals finished first after the classification phase, earning an outright semi-finals berth. In the semis, the Phone Pals eliminating the soon departing Shell Turbo Chargers, 3-1, to face San Miguel in the finals series.
Taulava was once again used by Talk N' Text, but this time the league gave the go-signal for Taulava to return and play for his mother ballclub. Asi showed rustiness during the series as the Phone Pals lost the series to San Miguel, 4-1. Willie Miller was named as the Best Player of the Conference.
[edit] 2005-06 season
Talk N' Text acquired rookies Anthony Washington and Mark Cardona from the Air21 Express for Yancy de Ocampo and Patrick Fran in separate deals.
The Phone Pals were considered as top favorites in the 2005-2006 Fiesta Conference. However, the Phone Pals lost in five grueling games to Air21 in the quarterfinals. During the series, import Damien Cantrell was replaced by former Detroit Piston and NBA champion Darvin Ham. But Ham did not fit in Talk N Text's system and struggled.
After the disappointing finish in the said tournament, Joel Banal resigned as head coach and was replaced by former amateur coach Derrick Pumaren. The change made some good strides in the early stages of his second stint with Talk N' Text. With Pumaren using the star players Asi Taulava and Jimmy Alapag, and mixing Harvey Carey and seldom-used rookie Mark Cardona, the Phone Pals went 5-4 through nine games of the Philippine Cup.
However, the Phone Pals suffered three succeeding losses, prompting team officials to land Ren-Ren Ritualo from Air21 for Leo Avenido and a future first round draft pick, and Don Allado from Alaska for Willie Miller, John Ferriols and a future first round pick on May 8. The move saw the Phone Pals as a potential title contender with the squad bolsting a group of star players from their past teams along with Taulava, Alapag, Cardona and Carey. However, the trade put the Phone Pals in a deeper hole losing three more games before a win against Coca-Cola gave them a disappointing 6-10 card.
In the wildcard phase, the Phone Pals did not win a single game in the round-robin format. In their initial game, Talk N' Text lost to Barangay Ginebra, eliminating them from quarterfinal contention before losing their final two games to Air21 and Sta. Lucia.
The Phone Pals had a shot of taking the No. 1 pick in the draft. However, they traded that rights to Air21 in a trade months ago, which dealt a big blow to the franchise. Rumors have speculated that TNT management is set to make drastic changes for the team after their disappointing season.
[edit] 2006 offseason
Talk N' Text has released Poch Juinio while the contracts of Vergel Meneses and Chris Cantonjos were not renewed, leaving the team with only 10 players. The Phone Pals recently participated in the 2006 NBA Summer Pro League.
[edit] Current roster
| Talk N' Text Phone Pals' Current Roster |
||||
Head Coach: Derrick Pumaren ( ) |
||||
| G | 3 |  |
Jimmy Alapag | (CSU San Bernardino) |
| F | 4 | |
Harvey Carey | (Sonoma State) |
| C | 5 | |
Mark Andaya | (Letran) |
| F | 7 | |
Anthony Washington | (Eckerd) |
| G | 8 | |
Patrick Fran | (Santo Tomas) |
| G | 14 | |
Ren-Ren Ritualo | (De La Salle) |
| G | 17 | |
Mark Cardona | (De La Salle) |
| F | 33 | |
Victor Pablo | (Far Eastern) |
| C | 41 | |
Don Allado | (De La Salle) |
| G | 42 | |
Felix Belano | (Visayas) |
| C | 88 |  |
Asi Taulava | (Brigham Young-Hawaii) |
| (C) - Captain, (I) - Import | Talk N' Text Phone Pals | |||
Other people
- Assistant coaches: Geraldo V. Ramos, Jose Antonio Yturri, Agustin Tiongco, Bong Ravena
- Team manager: Frankie Lim
- Governor: Ricky Pardo
[edit] Players of note
[edit] PBA's 25th anniversary all-time team
[edit] Other notable players
- Chris Cantojos
- Glen Capacio
- Jeffrey Cariaso
- Richard Del Rosario (now a PBA on ABC analyst)
- Poch Junio
- Carlito Mejos
- Eugene Quilban
- Dindo Pumaren
- Bong Ravena
- Gilbert "Jun" Reyes
- Andy Seigle
- Al Solis
- Mark Telan
[edit] Imports
- Derrick Hamilton
- Dell Demps
- Derick Canada
- Ronnie Coleman
- Artemus McClary
- Silas Mills
- Terquin Mott
- Larry Robinson
- Todd Bernard
- Carlos Strong
- Jerod Ward
- Brandon Williams
- Pete Mickeal
- Richie Frahm
- Danny Johnson
- Jerald Honeycutt
- Damian Cantrell
- Darvin Ham
[edit] Coaches
- Derrick Pumaren (1990-1995;1997;2006-Present)
- Yeng Guiao(1995-1997)
- Norman Black (1997)
- Eric Altamirano (1998-2000)
- Louie Alas (2000-2001)
- Bill Bayno (2002)
- Paul Woolpert (2002-2003)
- Joel Banal (2003-2006)
