Sta. Lucia Realtors

WINNING their first Philippine Cup title since joining the league in 1993 have turned out to be the year for the Sta. Lucia Realtors despite a luckless import recruitment last 33rd Smart PBA Fiesta Conference.

Coach Boyet Fernandez said over and over again that playing solid defense from start to finish had made them successfully become the 2008 Philippine Cup champions – the Realtors second title since winning the 2001 governor’s cup title.

“I credited all my players for believing this year,” said Fernandez. “We gained respect that we are no pushovers and it is really cool and proud to win your first title just a few months after since handling this team.”

The newly-crowned Sta. Lucia Realtors first wrote a historic note in the book, when they posted an eight-game rin to close out the elimination round at 12-6 to gain their first outright semifinals stint.

They played against the Alaska Aces, whom Fernandez and the Realtors organization considered as a much very disciplined team, in the best-of-seven semifinals.

After six exhausting games in the series, Sta. Lucia brought down Alaska in the pivotal Game 7 where rookie Ryan Reyes led his team with 21 points, Kelly Williams had 19, Dennis Espino and Nelbert Omolon finished with 17 points each for a 92-84 win.

In a classic finals duel against Purefoods, the Sta. Lucia Realtors underwent to pressure in the series that lasted also in seven games. Controversies clouded the series, but it was all about heart as the true winner emerged in that series.

Sta. Lucia, in fact, took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series but Purefoods was able to win two straight, tying it at 2-2 in Game 4.

The Realtors took a 3-2 lead after an 88-76 win in Game, but the Giants forced a deciding Game 7 in the series with an 89-81 win.

Sta. Lucia carved out history in its franchise, at last, when they scored a dramatic 100-88 Game 7 victory to win the championship series and non-believers finally believed on them.

“It is time for the people to believe on us,” said Fernandez, who also credited Best Player of the Conference winner Kelly Williams for a job well done as well as finals MVP Dennis Espino. “Everybody did great that time.”

From starters to bench players, Fernandez has nothing to ask from his players.

He also said the last conference – Fiesta Conference – is not the squad’s failure but maybe they were just unlucky selecting a good and trusted import.

Sta. Lucia’s first import was Wesley Wilson, Jamar Brown and the reckless Lee Benson, an ex-convict according to various internet reports.

Experience proved to be a major factor when they survived Alaska and Talk ‘N Text in that knock-out round. But the Realtors were swept by finalist Ginebra Gin Kings due to import problem.

Although finishing at sixth in the quarterfinals was not bad at all. They ended the elimination round at 7-11 to end up at wildcard round.

Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes, Nelbert Omolon, team captain Dennis Espino, Joseph Yeo, Dennis Miranda and Marlou Aquino, among others are expected to comeback big to defend their title at the 34th season.