MANILA, 24 December 2007 — Their first intention was to crack the Top 5. Their latest win changed all that.
The Sta. Lucia Realtors are finally showing the promise of legitimate contenders this time — a quality no one thought they would never ever possess — after clinching their fifth straight win last night in the Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Talk ‘N Text was the one that suffered the disappointing result, unable to cash in on a game-winning play featuring Jimmy Alapag and allowing Sta. Lucia Realty to escape with a gripping 92-91 triumph, its ninth win overall in 15 games.
It was an outcome that gave Sta. Lucia solo third spot, half a game behind second running Red Bull (9-5) and Purefoods (11-3), the team that could secure the first Final Four berth if ever it wins over sister-team Ginebra in a Christmas Day battle tomorrow.
“Making it to the Top 2 is, to me, doable,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez after the victory that more or less reflected how the Realtors have matured enough to win games that count most.
“Before,” said Fernadez, “our goal was to finish in the Top 5. But if ever the boys play the way they played in our last five games, I think we have a good chance of earning a semifinals berth.” The Realtors have never advanced to the Final Four outright. In fact, they’re a team more popularly regarded as ‘chokers,’ and in last season’s Philippine Cup, the deepest stage they managed to set foot onto was the quarterfinals, losing to Red Bull 1-3 in the best-of-five series after winning Game 1.
These days, Red Bull appears to be the ball club they will watch with utmost interest. But as of the moment, Fernandez would rather cherish their latest win.
Kelly Williams scored 22 points, rookie Ryan Reyes had 21 points and eight offensive rebounds, and Dennis Espino had a split from the line with 2,5 seconds left in the Realtors’ victory.
But Sta. Lucia only celebrated after the final buzzer sounded, when the lay-up of Jimmy Alapag after a baseline drive fell short.
It was an unfitting ending to a final play that looked perfect. Don Belano issued the inbounds pass, and Alapag faked off Williams and guard Denok Miranda to free himself up for a drive across the baseline.
But the shot lacked power — perhaps because the Phone Pals guard took off prematurely — and the ball bounced off after hitting the rim. Talk ‘N Text suffered its seventh loss in 15 games in a tie with powerhouse Magnolia and Alaska.
Sta. Lucia escaping with a scary win was not at all expected when it took a 91-83 lead with 2:12 left to play, Reyes was the man responsible for that lead, coming through with a three-point basket from the left corner.
But after Jay Washington had a jumper, Ren-Ren Ritualo drained back-to-back triples as Talk ‘N Text tied the game with 16.6 seconds to go. Reyes was then isolated at the top of the circle in Sta. Lucia’s next play, before slashing through the middle and dishing off a bounce pass to a cutting Espino.
Espino went for the shot but was fouled for two free throws, Espino bungled his first attempt, and converted the second with 2.5 seconds remaining.
The tournament’s hottest team — Coca-Cola — meantime bungled its chance to extend its winning streak to six games.
The Tigers met an Air21 team not at all intimidated by Asi Taulava and the morale he has given to the once bottom-dwelling ball club, coming away with a 102-97 victory to snap a four-game losing slide.
Coach Bo Perasol wasn’t at the bench to call the shots for the Express, but substitute Johnny Tam more than proved that he can handle the job. Perasol, according to Tam, left for General Santos City to attend to ‘sensitive’ family matters. Arwind Santos went 0-of-4 from three-point country but made up for it by going 8-of-14 from two-point field goal to finish with 20 points and 14 rebounds — nine coming on the offensive end — with only one turnover.
It was an entirely frustrating defeat for the Tigers, who were favored to win this one after beating heavyweight teams during their five-game winning roll.
Asi Taulava led Coca-Cola with 23 points and 18 rebounds and Mark Telan had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers, who went down to 6-9 overall. It was only the second defeat of Coca-Cola since Taulava arrived.
The Express, meantime, pumped life into their sagging quarterfinals bid with their sixth win in 15 games.
