MANILA, 17 April 2004 — Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino, the “Twin Towers” of local basketball fame, presided over Sta. Lucia’s offensive thrust as the Realtors defeated the Coca-Cola Tigers, 87-75, on Thursday night in Zamboanga City for their third win in 10 starts. The Tigers suffered their fourth loss against six wins.
Aquino presided over an 11-2 run early in the fourth period to forge ahead for good, 74-63, with 7 minutes to go in the game. The Realtors then beat back every Coca-Cola challenge to post the relatively easy victory.
In all Aquino unloaded 19 points, 11 in the decisive fourth quarter. Espino led all scorers with 23 points to go with a career-high 19 rebounds.
Defensive intensity spelled the difference for the Realtors. The Tigers struggled with 34 percent shooting from the field while the Realtors had a respectable 40 percent norm. The Realtors, never known to be a running team, even had more fast break points with 18 than the Tigers who only had 6 points.
The Tigers’ woeful stance was typified by their import Mark Sanford who had a paltry 12 points, down from his average of 34 points per game. He also had just 5 rebounds way below his close to 14 rebounds per game.
The Tigers’ Rafi Reavis tried to pick up the slack with 12 points and 11 rebounds. But his thin wiry frame was no match for the big and burly bodies of Aquino and Espino who were dominant inside the paint when it counted most-in the payoff fourth period.
Sta. Lucia import Derick Brown fared almost as badly as Sanford with only 22 points. But the Realtors rode an emotional high with Aquino and Espino clearly unopposed in the shaded lane.
The Realtors’ Ronald Cuan responded with a brilliant game scoring a career-high 14 points in 23 minutes The Tigers made their last stand when Reavis swatted Cuan’s attempt with a monster block keying a fast break with Jeff Cariaso finishing with a lay up as the Tigers crept closer 67-75.
Reynel Hugnatan put Coke even closer, 69-75, with a fastbreak dunk, and there was still over 3 minutes to go in the match. But almost methodically Aquino scored unopposed, on a finger-roll; and Espino followed up his own miss to put the game beyond the reach of Tigers.
Zamboanga’s native son Jec Chia was given a surprise start by Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes but it hardly mattered to the Realtors who still booked a 23-17 lead over the Coca-Cola Tigers after the first period.
Meanwhile, San Miguel forward Nic Belasco and Coca-Cola import Mark Sanford were spared from suspensions but slapped hefty fines following their off-court scuffle in the two teams’ PBA Fiesta Cup match-up at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
This developed even as the Ginebra San Miguel management denied reports of a blockbuster player trade with Formula Shell involving Gin Kings Mark Caguioa and Rommel Adducul and Chargers Tony Dela Cruz, Billy Mamaril and Chris Calaguio.
Meanwhile, the Red Bull management said Wednesday night that 6-foot-7 Corey Hightower will be the Barakos’ new import after talks with the camp of the ex-NBA rebound king Dennis Rodman bogged down.
