Purefoods’ Marc Pingris grabs the ball as teammate Roger Yap blocks the path of Rain or Shine’s Sol Mercado during Game 4 of their quarterfinal series in the PBA Philippine Cup last Friday. Rain or Shine won, 103-100, to tie the series at 2-2.

If there’s anything that came out positive from Talk ‘N Text’s walkout Friday, fans came out in droves to watch a pair of sudden-death matches Sunday in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Both the PBA commissioner’s and the Araneta Coliseum management confirmed that tickets from Courtside (P450), Patron (P400), Lower Box (P400, P335 and P295), Upper-A (P115), Upper-B (P40) and General Admission (P25) were sold out as early as Saturday morning.

“What we’re selling now are SRO tickets,” said Sienna Olaso, Araneta Coliseum’s director for entertainment and marketing.

Despite the uncertainty of Talk ‘N Text playing, tickets sold briskly.

“The fans really want to see the two teams, Talk ‘N Text and Ginebra, as well as Rain or Shine and Purefoods play,” PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said.

As of Sunday noon, a decision has yet to be made by TNT management, headed by team owner Manny V. Pangilinan, whether the Texters will show up in their 6:30 p.m. match with Barangay Ginebra.

“We still have a meeting. I hope I can convince MVP to allow Talk ‘N Text to play,” Ricky Vargas, TNT’s representative to the PBA board, said after arriving from Hong Kong.

TNT forfeited Game 4 by walking out late in the first period with Ginebra up, 27-20, following a controversial Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 (F2) slapped against forward Ranidel de Ocampo.

Ocampo collided with Ginebra guard Ronald Tubid hard with an elbow coming into contact on Tubid’s face.

After the announcement of De Ocampo’s ejection, TNT coach Chot Reyes led the walkout, only the third in the PBA’s 35-year existence.

The Texters appealed De Ocampo’s case, but league commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios upheld the decision of the referees that resulted in De Ocampo’s one-game suspension and P20,000 fine.

TNT also stands to receive the basic penalty of P500,000 for walking out and forfeiting Game 4.

Talk ‘N Text won Games 1 (107-92) and 2 (106-105) but blew a chance to close it out in Game 3 when Ginebra came back with a 102-97 victory.

The series winner will face top seed Alaska in a best-of-seven showdown in the Final Four.

The other quarterfinal match pits Purefoods against Rain or Shine at 4 p.m.

Purefoods TJ also won the first two games (90-85 and 95-94), but Rain or Shine took Game 3 (95-92) and Game 4 (103-100).

The winner will clash with powerhouse San Miguel Beer in the other semifinal showdown.