MANILA, 24 June 2003 — Marlou Aquino was almost forgotten following a so-so performance in Sta. Lucia Realty’s Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup semifinal series opener against Coca-Cola.
The 6-foot-9 center made sure he would be remembered by turning in a monster game last night, lifting the Realtors to a cruising 90-84 win at the Araneta Coliseum To even up their tussles at 1-all.
Aquino scored a game-high 31 points on top of eight rebounds that gave Sta. Lucia enough of a spark to dictate the pace from the get-go and lead by as much as 75-52.
Aquino’s electrifying show even rubbed off on his reliever.
Wilmer Ong came up with his best game yet as a Realtor, finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds in just 13 minutes.
Ong’s five straight free throws in the closing minutes of the third quarter hoisted Sta. Lucia on top by 23 points, 75-52, going into the final canto.
Ong hauled down his last board after Rob Wainwright flubbed a triple during the Tigers‚ last-ditch effort and scored his last point from the stripe on a Rudy Hatfield foul that gave the Realtors an 88-82 breathing room with only 38.4 ticks left. “A lot of people have been saying that we cannot win without Kenneth. I give it to the boys for proving them wrong especially Wilmer, Marlou (Aquino), Dennis (Espino), Gerard (Francisco) and Paolo (Mendoza),”said Chua.
The performance was a complete turnaround for Aquino, who could only score nine points in a 70-85 loss in Game One last Friday. It was his first game to score 30 or more points since turning in 31 while still with Barangay Ginebra in February 14, 1999 and Aquino simply explained it was a matter of need.
“Somebody has to step up in Kenneth’s absence,” said Aquino, referring to their wingman who missed a second straight game due to a strained left calf muscle that is being given ample time to heal.
Sta. Lucia looked helpless when Coca-Cola sprung a trapping defense and went for a full-court press in the final frame and brought the 23-point deficit to 69-77 with still 7:11 minutes remaining.
Aquino scored four points, Mendoza hit a trey and Adriano made two free throws to push Sta. Lucia back to a double-digit lead, 86-74.
The Tigers countered with seven straight baskets for 81-86 but time — and a free throw each by Aquino, Ong, Mendoza and Jason Webb — went against them.
Later in the night, John Arigo came away with 32 points, two of them on a clutch jumper at the height of a torrid Talk “N Text endgame surge, as Alaska held on for an 86-77 victory to likewise square their Final Four series going into Game Three on Wednesday. Top rookie pick Mike Cortez finally outplayed his rookie counterpart Jimmy Alapag of the Phone Pals. Cortez finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Alapag on the other hand was limited to 9 points, 3 rebounds and only 2 assists.
Arigo, who took home Player of the Game honors, also had 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Alaska’s EJ Feihl used his 7-foot bulk to smother Talk ‘N’Text center Asi Taulava inside the paint. And when he wasn’t around Ali Peek and Don Allado shut him down with a double team.
