Sta. Lucia Realtors

ANTHONY JOHNSON came out flat in the first three quarters but returned to his usual deadly form when it mattered most on Sunday to provide the Sta. Lucia Realtors a one-game edge against the Burger King Whoppers in their best-of-three quarterfinal affair.

Johnson tallied 13 of his 22 in the last quarter and matching his career-high 24 rebounds in addition to his five blocks, as the Realtors cruised to a 93-84 win against the Whoppers in the PBA-Motolite Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Johnson, fresh from his 42-point and 24-rebound performance last Friday against Coca-Cola, registered two triples, six baskets and four free throws, while local gunner Norman Gonzales added 17 points – including a perfect 10-of-10 in the free throw area – and seven boards.

“We really need to step up all the time especially in this crucial stage,” said 6-foot-6 Johnson, who will do everything to tow the Realtors to the finals. “Every player wants to be in the finals, but we really need to work hard since Kelly Williams is out.”

Williams, who missed Sta. Lucia’s last six-game due to blood disorder, remains out for at least three to four weeks since the platelet count on his blood remains improving.

Dennis Miranda contributed 11 points and eight assists, while Nelbert Omolon had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Realtors, who are hoping to finish the series on Wednesday to meet No. 1 San Miguel Beer in the best-of-seven semifinals series.

“We just won only one game,” said Sta. Lucia Realtors coach Boyet Fernandez. “We just need to win one more game and we can’t allow Burger King to win on Wednesday because we do respect coach Yeng (Guiao).

“We just hope we’ll be lucky on the next game. Norman really step up his game tonight”

Shawn Daniels finished with his 12th double and a second straight 20-20 game with 22 points and 20 rebounds, while Arwind Santos, Gary David and Mark Yee had at least 10 points each for a Burger King.

The things Sta. Lucia mainly prepared for, like Burger King’s conference-best transition offense, fast breaks and rebounding, were splendidly taken cared of. The Realtors had more rebounds (57-50), fast break points (19-12) and points off turnovers (19-8).

Burger King was actually held to its second-lowest output in the conference, next only to an 82-78 loss to Purefoods last April 15.

Still, Sta. Lucia could not really put away the Whoppers despite grabbing the lead for good through one gigantic run ending the first period and posting a 42-29 spread in the last 4:08 of the second quarter.

That is, before Johnson took over.

Four points by Yee, and a Wynne Arboleda twinner brought the Whoppers threateningly closest at 69-71, before two monstrous dunks by Johnson spiked a 9-0 run that made it an 11-point game.

Charities by Arboleda and David brought Burger King within 84-88, but Johnson had a charity and a shot-clock-beating, step-back jumper in Sta. Lucia’s windup that spelled the final difference.

Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino also alternated on a single-coverage on the hefty Daniels every time he made a post move, forcing Burger King to take outside shots that more often than not failed to find their mark in the early goings.

Ryan Reyes and Gonzales, on the other hand, took turns in leading the Realtors’ offense, resulting in several surges that staked them to as much as a 42-29 spread and into a 45-37 halftime lead.

That trend was first displayed in the last seven minutes of the first quarter, when Sta. Lucia unleashed a 21-2 run that plucked it out of a 2-10 bind and into a 23-12 bulge.

Individual Scores:

Sta Lucia 93  – Johnson 22, Gonzales 17, Miranda 11, Omolon 10,  Reyes 9, Aquino 8, Espino 6, Coronel 5, Yeo 3, Jaime 2, Daa 0.

Buger King 84 – Daniels 22, Santos 16, David 14, Yee 10, , Belga 8, Arboleda 7, Billiones 3, Rodriguez 2, Aban 2, Quinahan 0, Cruz 0

Quarter Scores: 23-12, 45-37, 67-63,93 -84