Thursday, July 10, 2008 Realtors boot out Alaska Aces, 99-86
MANILA -The Sta. Lucia Realtors found a new lease in life as they humbled the Alaska Aces, 99-86, yesterday to advance into the second round of the wildcard phase of the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
The Realtors, who finished ninth at the end of the double-round eliminations with a 7-11 slate, took advantage of the Aces' four successive turnovers down the stretch to eliminate the defending champion in the race for the crown.
Import Lee Benson, Kelly Williams and Bitoy Omolon scored four points each as they surprisingly held the Aces scoreless in the last 3:43 during a fiery 11-0 wind up that kept the 2008 All-Filipino titlist's hope of another finals appearance alive.
They will then face the winner of the Talk 'N Text and Purefoods TJ Giants, which were still playing at press time, in the second round of the wildcard phase on Friday.
It was a sorry loss by the sixth finisher Aces, who were leading most of the way until the 5-foot-11 Yeo struck with nine straight points, capped by a triple to grab the lead for the Realtors, 82-80, only 4:42 left in the match.
Alaska had never won against Sta. Lucia in all their three meetings this season after losing the first, 86-93 last April 2 and 75-95 in the second last June 18.
With the exit of the Aces early in the wildcard phase, no reigning champion has ever defended the crown in a best-of-seven finals showdown since Barangay Ginebra did it in the 1986 Commissioners Cup.
The former Green Archers' Yeo scored a new career-high 27 points, the 6-foot-6 Williams, the leading MVP candidate, finished with 23 points. Ryan Reyes finished with 13 while the 7-foot Benson had 11.
Wellie Miller, the reigning MVP, topscored for the Aces with 26 points, while the 6-foot-8 import Randy Holcomb bid farewell with 18 and LA Tenorio had 13.
Both teams fought closely all throughout with the Realtors trailing by six points, 37-43, at the end of the half, but Williams cut down the deficit to only three, 67-70, only seven seconds remaining in the third period.
