Thursday, April 03, 2008 4th quarter assault lifts Sta. Lucia over Alaska
MANILA—Newly-crowned Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia Realtors showed their deadly form as they repulsed the challenge of defending titlist Alaska Aces, 93-86, yesterday in the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Six-foot-11 import Wesley Wilson, Ryan Arana and Kelly Williams led the Realtors’ fiery assault in the final quarter to serve notice of their bid for a back-to-back championships in the professional league.
Down most of the way, the Realtors threw a 12-3 run to grab the lead and kept it until the buzzer in an auspicious start of the second conference of the 33rd season.
Williams, a former Georgetown Universitty standout in New York, topscored for the Realtors with 24 points on top of 13 rebounds and six blocks, while Williams finished with 17 and Joseph Yeo had 14.
Willie Miller scored a game-high 25 points, Randy Holcomb settled with just 14 and Tony de la Ceruz added 13.
The acquisition of former Ateneo stars LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier from Magnolia Beverage added more fire to the run-and-gun game of the Aces as the deadly duo connected heavily in the first two periods to keep Alaska at bay.
And the 6-foot-9 Randy Holcomb, a former import of Talk ‘N Text in 2004, seemed to have adjusted fast to the style of coach Tim Cone.
A spark by Miller, the Fiesta Cup’s MVP last year, tied the match for the first time, 21-21, still 1:41 remaining in the first quarter.
Biggest lead
Holcomb scored from under on a pass by Tenorio to move the Aces on top by two points, 25-23, at the end of the first canto.
Fonacier scored back-to-back triples and Jeffrey Cariaso added a short jumper and Holcomb used his heft and height to outmaneuver Williams to establish Alaska’s biggest lead, 47-34, still 5:11 left in the second period.
The Aces stretched the lead back to nine points, 53-44, early in the third but Williams, the 2008 Philippine Cup MVP, scored six straight points to rally the Reators to a 63-63 standoff, 3:25 remaining in the third quarter. (FCC)
