Pepsi Philippines of the Lorenzo family and was granted an expansion franchise prior to the 1990 PBA season. The Pepsi Bottlers also used the names 7-Up Uncolas and Pepsi Mega Hotshots in their campaigns, netting no championships.
In 1996, telecommunications company Pilipino Telephone Corporation bought the franchise and renamed it the Mobiline Cellulars and later the Mobiline Phone Pals which later won the special 1998 PBA Centennial Cup. After Piltel became an MVNO in April 2000, the team was again renamed in 2001, this time as the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals, after a prepaid cellular phone service. They have since won a title in four finals appearances and remains as one of the league's powerhouses. In 2008, the team changed their monicker from Phone Pals, to Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters.
History
Under the Pepsi brand
Pepsi Mega was accepted as one of two new members of the PBA during the 1990, joining soft drink 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 Reinforced Conference.
In 1992, they were known as the 7-Up Bottlers, one of the brands which Pepsi (
7-Up would place runner-up in the 1992 Reinforced Conference. Their import was an NBA veteran point guard by the name of Delano Demps. They would be swept by the Swift Mighty Meaties led by Tony Harris in the finals 4-0. [2] 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 Hotshots, and also used the 7-Up name at one point. Pepsi placed fourth in the 1993 Governor's Cup and a third-place finish in the 1994 Governors Cup with import Ronnie Coleman.
Before the 1994 PBA Governor's Cup , Pepsi and Sunkist were involved in a rare coaching trade that saw Derrick Pumaren moving to the RFM franchise for Yeng Guiao. Despite the coaching change, 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.
Mobiline Cellulars
After the 1996 PBA All-Filipino Cup, Pepsi Hotshots was renamed as the Mobiline Cellulars, a product of telecommunications company Pilipino Telephone Corporation (Piltel). There is some confusion or lack of information on how the team was renamed from a soft drink 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 Hotshots, 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. [3]
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 did not help the Cellulars contend for the crown.
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.
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.
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.
Talk 'N Text Phone Pals
In 2001, the Phone Pals tried to acquire Kenneth Duremdes through free agency, but Alaska matched Mobiline's offer sheet of a reported 48 million pesos, and Duremdes stayed with the Aces.
The Phone Pals drafted former Manila Metrostar Gilbert Demape, but the Phone Pals, for the sixth time in seven conferences, were 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
003 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.
2007-2008 SMART PBA Philippine Cup
On November 18, 2007, the Smart PBA Philippine Cup was played between the Talk N Text Phone Pals and Coca Cola. The game was dominated early by Coca Cola, but the Talk N Text Phone Pals turned the game around and ended up winning comfortable, 113-82. The win was a very dominating performance, considering the narrow one-point loss to Welcoat, 125-126 on November 09, 2007. The game was tied when the Phone Pals hit a two-point basket with only two seconds remaining. Against all odds, Welcoat hit an audacious three-point field goal to win the game.
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.
2008-09 season
The team changed its name to Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters. And to make the team competitive, they drafted stalwarts such as Jason Castro, Jared Dillinger,Robbie Reyes, and Pong Escobal and giving away Jay Washington, Donbel Belano, and Kalani Ferreria .
In December 17, 2008, unexcepted Ranidel de Ocampo was traded from Air 21 Express exchange for Don Allado, and a first-round pick in 2012[3].
During the Philippine Cup eliminations, they have ended up 2nd with a 11-7 record. In February 11, 2009, it is their night. They capture their 2nd title as they beat the Alaska Aces in Game 7, 93-89 to win the series 4-3. Mark Cardona was named the Finals MVP.
Head coach
Chot Reyes (Ateneo*)
Assistant coach(es)
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