Realtors, Panthers clinch semis berths

Sta. Lucia Realty came like a thief in the night, stealing a crucial victory which for three-fourth of the way was Red Bull’s for the taking, 97-93, to reach the PBA Governors Cup semifinals to the delight of a good Sunday crowd at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Realtors, starring an unlikely combination of Damian Owens, Paolo Mendoza, Dennis Espino, Francisco Adriano and Marvin Ortiguerra, fought back from a 10-point deficit in the last three minutes of play and fashioned out the stirring win to advance to the Final Four against Pop Cola.

Pop Cola reached semis by dishing out a solid all-around game despite the absence of ace pointguard Johnny Abarrientos to boot out Alaska, 88-78, in the second game. Pop Cola coach Chot Reyes, however, said Abarrientos is expected to be back from injury when the semis begins on Friday.

Ortiguerra delivered decisive points as an able back-up to Marlou Aquino in the last eight minutes although it was the duo of Owens and Adriano which came up with the big plays that turned the game around for Sta. Lucia.

Adriano, a former Pasig Pirate in the MBA, had a crucial five-point binge that tied the count at 93-all with 38 seconds left in the clock and gave the Realtors the lead to stay at 95-93.

Owens, who had another sterling all-round game despite being scoreless in the third quarter, clinched the win with an interception of a Willie Miller pass to Ray Tutt and two free throws off a desperation foul by Mick Pennisi with time down to 8.8 seconds.

It was a tremendous victory for the Realtors who never lost heart despite trailing by 10 points at 91-81 with 3:08 left in the contest.

"We didn’t give up, the boys showing great determination to win. Red Bull is a tough team but this is our game this time," said coach Norman Black as his Realtors settled an old score with the Thunder.

Red Bull toppled Sta. Lucia also in a quarterfinals match in the recent Governors Cup. And curiously, the Photokina franchise was the only ballclub to beat Sta. Lucia twice in the elims.

"I think Red Bull is the toughest team for us. So beating them is like winning the championship for me," said Owens.

Black had to gamble on Ortiguerra with Aquino having to sit down seven minutes in the fourth quarter for a deliberate foul on Miller.

Earlier, Adriano and Espino also sat out precious minutes for the same offense.

"Marvin gave us a solid eight-minute game, coming up with big hustle points," said Black.

However, Adriano proved to be Sta. Lucia’s biggest hero with the former FEU gunner in the UAAP hitting seven of its 11 points in the Realtors swashbuckling 16-2 closing run.