BY NOLI CORTEZ

ARMCHAIR observers are convinced Coca-Cola should be free of any pressure after making it to the quarterfinals of the Smart PBA Philippine Cup despite a poor start.

Tigers coach Binky Favis wants to look at it that way, but is convinced the icing in their season-opening campaign has yet to come.

"That’s why I’m telling my guys for us to continue to be committed, to take advantage of this blessing and give it all we’ve got," Favis said as his team geared up for the start of its best-of-three quarterfinals showdown with Alaska today at the Astrodome.

Red Bull and Magnolia start their own best-of-three series later in the evening, but the first game should grab its fair share of the limelight since very few thought Coca-Cola would make it to the quarterfinals in two years.

The Tigers won their first game in the season-opening tournament but went on a franchise-worst eight-game losing streak, a slide blamed on major retooling in the off-season and a spate of injuries to some key players.

To the surprise of everybody, the ninth-ranked Tigers sprang back to life, their rejuvenation capped by eliminating sixth-seed Talk N Text and No. 7 Air21 in the knockout wildcard round.

"It’s indeed a blessing to be here, to be given this chance," Favis said. "But we’ve got to keep harnessing our new-found energy, continue enjoying playing together and let’s see where it gets us."

Alaska beat Coca-Cola twice in the eliminations 98-94 and 117-106, the last in Asi Taulava’s first game with Coke on Nov. 28 after being acquired in a trade with TNT.

With the Tigers’ surge, even Alaska coach Tim Cone is convinced his Aces are not about to have a walk in the park.

"They are a different team now as opposed to when we played them last," noted Cone at the same Pasay City venue when the Tigers beat the Air21 Express 109-102 last Sunday to arrange the series with his team.

"Now they are well adjusted to what they want to do. We expect a tough series," he added.

Favis maintained Alaska, which is well-rested after playing its last game on Jan. 11, has the odds stacked in its favor.

"Nakapahinga sila ng maayos, nakapag-aral ng maayos," he said. "Hindi magiging madali ito (series), pero meron kaming tsansa. Hangga’t me tsansa… laban lang."

Taulava, Mark Telan, John Arigo, Alex Cabagnot and rookie Ronjay Buenafe are the men to watch for Coke and the 6-foot-9 center knows what it will take for them to maintain more than a fighting chance.

"We must frustrate their guards, keep them from playing their game," said Taulava, primarily referring to Alaska’s Willie Miller, Mike Cortez and Jeffrey Cariaso.

Red Bull and Magnolia are also surprises in the tournament, but for different reasons.

Despite trades that saw the departure of their established stars, the Bulls still maintained a fiery fighting form that almost–but not quite–put them straight through to the semifinals.

The pre-season favorite Beverage Masters, on the other hand, have rarely shown the fiery form expected of them due to their acquisition of practically all of Red Bull’s key players, to the point they almost got dragged into a playoff by TNT for the last outright quarters slot–if not for Coke.