MANILA, 29 October 2007 — Even Sta. Lucia couldn’t blow this one.

The Realtors built a huge buffer in the first half and then hung tough — unlike in their previous two outings — in the final two periods to hammer out a 97-87 victory over rock-solid Talk ‘N Text in the Philippine Cup eliminations. Sta. Lucia led by as many as 43-18 early in the second period before finally showing composure when it mattered to win for the first time in three games at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I’ve told them we really need to finish games, as in finish them,” Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez said. “We talked about it, checked our mistakes and they responded by playing great tonight.” Great was an understatement, as the Realtors threatened to blow the Phone Pals off the court if not at one stage in the third period when Anthony Washington ran amuck and put Talk ‘N Text within seven points.

But that was the best that Talk ‘N Text could do as the Realtors steadily broke away again, re-establishing a 20-point lead heading into the halfway point of the final frame to post the win. Sta. Lucia lost its first two games, against Purefoods after leading by 16, and against Barangay Ginebra after taking a 14-point lead in the first half. Marlou Aquino, sustaining great form in the tournament, tossed in 18 points to go with six rebounds, while Paolo Mendoza scored team honors with the 6-foot-9 beanpole, including nine points in the third, in a great starting stint.

Jimmy Alapag led the Phone Pals with 24 points and Washington finished with 19, 13 of them in the third period. But Talk ‘N Text lost for the second time in four games with Asi Taulava shooting only three and Ren-Ren Ritualo good for only five.

Lordy Tugade tossed in 13 of his team-high high 21 points in the final period and boosted Magnolia to an 89-78 win over tough Coca-Cola in the first game.

His explosion came after the Beverage Masters were forced into a toe-to-toe game by the Tigers, who tied it up at 70 with 6:25 left. It was the third win in four games for Magnolia, putting it back on track after a 90-93 loss to Purefoods last Friday which saw them flub control. The Beverage Masters climbed to solo second with the win after the Phone Pals lost in the second game.

Ali Peek had 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Coke, which absorbed its second straight loss and dropped into a tie with idle Welcoat , Alaska and Ginebra at 1-2.

For Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen, it was Tugade’s timely eruption and a little defensive adjustment that enabled them to overcome as much as a 40-52 third quarter deficit.

Magnolia overcame a six-point output by Dondon Hontiveros through Danny Seigle (12 and seven), Rico Villanueva (11 and seven) and Danny Ildefonso (11 points).

Sophomore club Welcoat, meanwhile, broke through Saturday night after thumping a seemingly listless Barangay Ginebra squad, 82-64, in a road game in Roxas City .

The Dragons, getting the goods from Nic Belasco and with No. 1 pick Joe Devance healthy, started out hot and finished in the same way to fashion out the first real upset of the season-opening tournament.

Ginebra again played without injured superstars Eric Menk and Mark Caguioa, and it showed in the way the defending champions dropped a second game in three matches after they were limited to their lowest output in the Jong Uichico era.

Welcoat actually closed out with a 16-0 run after the Gin Kings had come to within two late in the fourth quarter. The Dragons led by as many as 23 points in the first half and were never in trouble until late in the game. Nic Belasco led Welcoat with 17 points, while Rob Wainwright added 15.

Billy Mamaril and Jay-Jay Helterbrand were the only ones to finish in double digits for the Kings with 17 and 14, respectively.