Realtors, Giants take 2-1 lead

Realtors, Giants take 2-1 lead

By: Zean Macamay

Sta. Lucia’s Dennis Espino finds himself surrounded by five Alaska Aces in an undergoal play in Game 3 of their semifinal series last night. RAUL GUERRERO, PJ Games Tomorrow: (Cuneta Astrodome) 4:30 p.m. -- Red Bull vs Purefoods 6:30 p.m. -- Sta. Lucia vs Alaska ONCE again, Sta. Lucia made sure its defense would torment Alaska. And what a better time the Realtors inflicted that than in the clutch. Sta. Lucia held Alaska to merely three points in the last 4:32 as it unleashed one of its best end-game efforts in beating Alaska for the second time in a row, 91-82, and moving up 2-1 in their best-of-seven semifinal series last night in the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome. The Purefoods TJ Giants also moved ahead in their series with the Red Bull Barako Bulls after a 99-90 victory. In a game where officiating was once more a hot topic of dispute, the Realtors showcased that they could match the Aces’ experience in a tough, tight battle, crippling the reigning Fiesta Cup champion with a choking defense the same way they did in Game Two. “We were down in the first, we were down in the second (quarter), but I think my boys deserve the win because of the kind of defense they stepped up in the second half,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez. “We’re just one game ahead,” he added. “I will not make any pronouncements whatsoever. We have the momentum right now. But I do believe that they will come back in Game Four.” Kelly Williams, held back to only six points in the first half, came back with a vengeance in the last two quarters to score 21 and finish with 27 on top of 12 rebounds, while Dennis Espino finally had the game that was vintage like with his 18 points and eight rebounds. Joseph Yeo, who could only score nine points in the first two games in 17 minutes of action, had 17 points this time in a spectacular effort for a player coming off the bench, while Nelbert Omolon added 13 points and 12 rebounds. It was typical Game Three atmosphere, where the game had nine deadlocks and 16 lead changes. But the match took a much interesting, and perhaps a conflicting, twist when Tim Cone was called for a technical foul for incessantly complaining over a call at a time when the game was too close in the fourth quarter. Sta. Lucia was ahead, 85-80, when a foul was called on Espino. A referee then summoned Sonny Thoss to make the free throws and the Alaska center converted the front end of his gift shots. But the shot was nullified when the referees decided that it should have been John Ferriols who should step at the free throw line. When Ferriols came forward to shoot his free throws, he missed both. The scores: Sta. Lucia (91) �" Williams 27, Espino 18, Yeo 17, Omolon 13, Miranda 6, Aquino 5, Reyes 3, Gonzales 2, Mamaclay 0, Coronel 0, Daa 0. Alaska (82) �" Miller 28, Ferriols 17, Cortez 10, Thoss 9, Bono 7, Cariaso 5, Laure 4, De La Cruz 2, Quinahan 0. Quarterscores: 17-21; 36-41; 61-61; 91-82. Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-02-02&sec=7&aid=48019