REALTORS RIP RED BULL, RECLAIM SOLO LEAD
Veterans Duremdes, Aquino lead SLR return to win column
Wednesday, 25 October 2006
The Sta. Lucia Realtors returned to the metropolis with fire in their eyes coming off a bitter loss on the road, blasting the Red Bull Barakos, 105-83, Wednesday in the Talk N Text-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Stopped on their tracks by the Purefoods Chunkee Giants last Saturday in San Fernando City, La Union, the Realtors plunged back into action like mad men, totally outclassing the Barakos to find themselves the surprise league leaders four weeks into the season. Sta. Lucia, with a 4-1 win-loss record, seized leadership as Purefoods Chunkee whipped erstwhile front-runner Talk N Text, 109-103, in triple-overtime earlier in the day.
The Phone Pals slid to second with a 4-2 card and the Barakos fell to third with a 3-2 slate.
"Na-inspire kami sa panalo ng Purefoods. Sabi ko sa mga bata this is now our chance to regain the lead," said Sta. Lucia coach Alfrancis Chua.
"We lost a close game to Purefoods which is the reigning champion in this tournament. Sabi ko rin, runner-up lang ang Red Bull kaya kaya natin iyan," Chua added.
Marlou Aquino, Dennis Espino and Mark Isip asserted themselves at the paint, Paolo Mendoza and Kenneth Duremdes provided much firepower from the outside while Alex Cabagnot and Ronnie Bughao tended the backcourt well for the team.
The Realtors, who finished ninth and last in last seasons Philippine Cup, were all over the badly stunned Barakos, erecting a 17-point lead late in the first half and keeping huge margins all the way to the finish.
Duremdes, the 1998 MVP, banged away a three-pointer at the buzzer as the Realtors took an 80-58 bubble after the third period.
Espino and Isip took charge in the first quarter then Mendoza and Bughao took over in the next as the Realtors enjoyed a 51-37 lead at the turn.
Espino and Isip combined for 20 points in the opening quarter but the Realtors had to wait for the efforts of their reserves in the second period to seize control.
Mendoza and Bughao presided over a vicious run that enabled the Realtors to cut loose from a close game early on.
Returning from the bench, Cabagnot stole off Warren Ybanez and scored on a surprise fastbreak slam to give Sta. Lucia a 17-point spread at 51-34.
The Barakos cut their deficit to what it was at the half on a buzzer-beating trey by Ybanez.
Duremdes and Mendoza figured in a shooting duel between themselves with the former going 5-of-7 from the three-point area and the latter converting five of nine attempts from the same distance.
Aquino, Isip and Espino were other Realtors who finished in double figures while Williams made only six points but hauled down 16 rebounds.
The Barakos came out flat in their first game following the trading of Lordy Tugade to San Miguel Beer with the team committing 21 turnovers.
The scores:
Second Game
Sta. Lucia 105 Duremdes 20, Aquino 15, Mendoza 15, Isip 12, Espino 12, Williams 6, Bughao 6, Cabagnot 6, Catli 5, Omolon 5, Calimag 3, Gonzales 0.
Red Bull 83 Valenzuela 14, Baguio 13, Alvarez 10, Villanueva 10, Najorda 9, Ybanez 7, Sharma 6, Pennisi 6, Robinson 4, Bugia 2, Cruz 2, Fonacier 0.
Quarterscores: 25-20, 51-37, 80-58, 105-83