STA. Lucia Realty has finally met the end of the road on Sunday after bowing to Coca-Cola, 84-100, in the knockout wildcard stage of 35th Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Realtors, in seventh at 5-11 at the end of elimination round, tried their best to fight back but the Tigers were undeniable with Gary David and John Williamson combining for 62 points in the game.

Forward Yousif Aljamal scored 17 points to lead the Realtors and Ali Peek added 12 points, while import Anthony Johnson posted 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting at the foul line and got 16 rebounds for the Realtors.

A poor shooting night, translated into a 26-for-86 field shooting or a conference-low 30.2 percent, hastened the Realtors’ finish to either eighth.

Anthony Johnson, usually good for almost 30 points a game, epitomized SLR’s sour touch by going 5-for-21 from the floor. He finished with 20 points but only by going 10-for-14 from the stripes. He also had 16 rebounds.

Individual Scores:

Coke 100 – David 32, Williamson 30, Macapagal 13, Taulava 9, Lanete 4, Cruz 4, Espino 3, Mendoza 3, Rizada 2, Allera 0, Gonzales 0.

Sta. Lucia 84 – Johnson 20, Aljamal 17, Peek 12, Escobal 8, Espinas 6, Menor 5, Daa 5, Omolon 5, Urbiztondo 2, Ross 2, Custodio 2, Misolas 0, Belano 0.

Quarter Scores: 24-20, 45-40, 71-57, 100-84

STA. Lucia Realty has finally starting to show proper chemistry after reaching a slot in the wildcard phase of 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference with only a game left in the elimination round.

“We just keep playing and fighting to survive,” said Sta. Lucia mentor Boyet Fernandez. “We’re taking one game at a time and I’m happy the boys are now Starting to play with team work.”

Sta. Lucia routed Air21, 113-91, last Friday to end a six-game slump with import Anthony Johnson firing 28 points along with eight boards and three blocks.

Ali Peek had 12 points and Yousif Aljamal finished with 11 and Chris Ross got nine.

Despite their loss to Alaska the next game, 95-103, the Realtors are considered a huge threat especially in the backcourt after hitting the Alaska Aces with 11 triples.

Johnson finished with 26 points and Josh Urbiztondo had 20 points, while Peek and Rogemar Menor contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, also for the Realtors.

Sta. Lucia had already secured a wildcard berth after a 5-12 win-loss log.

STA. Lucia Realty fought with a lot of pride,  energy and intensity but came up short anew against Barako Coffee, 100-103, on Sunday despite Anthony Johnson’s explosive perfomance in the 35th PBA Fiesta Conference.

The 6-foot-6 Johnson flattered the entire crowd at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, scoring 45 points on 9-of-14 shooting beyond the arc, 6-of-13 in the field and converting all six free throws to go along with 15 rebounds.

But the determination of Barako Coffee could not be denied with import Sammy Monroe and forward Mark Isip  providing 41 points and 22, respectively.

And the Coffee Masters’ defense proved to be the icing on the cake to their victory.

Former San Beda ace Rogemar Menor posted 12 points, while Pong Escobal had 10 and Gabby Espinas and Josh Urbiztondo finished with eight each for the Realtors, who dropped to 4-11 log.

Individual Scores:

Barako Coffee 103 – Monroe 41, Isip 22, Juntilla 11, Dimaunahan 8, Hubalde 7, Gaco 4, Reyes 4, Vergara 2, Alonzo 2, Coronel 2, Najorda 0.

Sta. Lucia 100 – Johnson 45, Menor 12, Escobal 10, Urbiztondo 8, Espinas 8, Custodio 5, Misolas 4, Belasco 3, Omolon 2, Peek 2, Daa 1, Ross 0, Aquino 0.

Quarter scores: 25-21, 52-44, 74-77, 103-100

PONG Escobal, one of the promising playmakers to enter the big league, is providing some hopes for the Sta. Lucia Realtors who are presently playing without a single star except their import Anthony Johnson.

Despite losing their last three games — Talk ‘N Text, San Miguel Beer and Derby Ace — the Realtors remain hopeful that they would see the light at the end of the tunnel and get their confidence back.

“We just need to play hard and keep the faith,” said Sta. Lucia mentor Boyet Fernandez, who steered the Realtors to first ever Philippine Cup title in 2008. “It’s going to be tough but I’m sure we’re still able to turn around our fortune.”

Escobal, the former San Beda Red Lions, scored 14 points in a loss against San Miguel Beer and hit 12 points in a loss against Derby Ace. His performance shows that Sta. Lucia has still left something inside its bag of talent.

The 5-foot-11 guard Escobal came from Talk ‘N Text along with Ali Peek, Nic Belasco, Yousif Aljamal and Ogie Menor in a three-way trade involving Sta. Lucia, TNT and Barako Coffee.

The Texters received Sta. Lucia’s tar players Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes.

Escobal, for his part, said he is not losing hope and Sta. Lucia Realty will finally return to winning. “We just need to believe despite the setbacks. We guarantee the fans that we keep playing hard and we’re hoping winning will come.”

Johnson scored 30 points and grabbed seven boards in a loss against San Miguel Beer. He also tallied 23 points and got 14 rebounds in a loss against the Llamados.

IT looks like import Anthony Johnson is tasked to carry now the whole team.

But it wasn’t successful for their third try as the Sta. Lucia Realtors dropped to a 78-92 decision against the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters Sunday in the 35th PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Sta. Lucia’s two key players Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes were dealt to Talk ‘N Text recently, and the result of their game was expected.

Williams led Talk ‘N Text with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Reyes had four points and six rebounds against their former team which drew 29 points and 14 rebounds from import Johnson.

Josh Urbiztondo had 13 points and five steals, while Gabby Espinas finished with eight points, but all efforts went to naught and even newly-acquired rookie Chris Ross, who was traded for Paolo Mendoza, did not make an impact.

“My players are trying each night to win and I’m expecting we will regain winning soon,” said Sta. Lucia head coach Boyet Fernandez.

Sta. Lucia took a slim 24-23 lead at the end of  first quarter,  but Talk ‘N Text came up huge in the last three quarters to totally bulldoze the Realtors the rest of the way.

Individual Scores:

NEW look Sta. Lucia Realty, still trying to adjust playing without their star players, did not survive the wrath of Ginebra, 85-102, on Sunday in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings exploited the Sta. Lucia Realtors’ new line-up and the loss of 2008 MVP Kelly Williams and rookie of the year Ryan Reyes via trade turned out to be a huge problem from the beginning to end of the game.

Williams and Reyes were traded to Talk ‘N Text over the week end in exchange of five players – Ali Peek, Nic Belasco, Pong Escobal, Yousif Aljamal and Rogemar Menor – in a three-way trade involving Barako Coffee.

But it looked like it affected them a lot.

Things were drastically different as the Kings dominated from start to finish, even leading by 23 points twice, en route to improving their win-loss record to 6-4.

Even Ginebra coach Jong Uichico quickly admitted SLR is still trying to adjust from the trade.

The absence of the two, who combined to average 32.0 points, 21.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.0 blocks in three previous wins against Ginebra this season, was clearly a factor and tempered Ginebra’s jubilation.

Adjustment is also the operating word for the Realtors, who dropped to a 4-6 slate.

“We have so many things to adjust,” said SLR coach Boyet Fernandez, whose team drew a game-high 31 points and nine rebounds from Anthony Johnson but got outrebounded 40-53.

“We’ve got a lot to learn in our defensive rotation,” he said. “Hindi pa nag-click sa rotation, at kailangan pa ang konting adjustment, execution-wise sa mga bagong dating.”

Marlou Aquino’s grandfather also passed away in Pangasinan recently, preventing him from joining practice for two days.

But there were some bright notes, like Yousif Aljamal draining four triples for 12 points and Ali Peek hauling down seven rebounds.

The Kings also shot 50 percent from the floor, the percentage pulled down a bit by its 11-for-24 clip from beyond the arc.

Tubid going a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point land and Ambres and Helterbrand adding three triples each helped Barangay Ginebra pull away, although it was Caguioa’s fastbreak layup that made it a 93-70 count, 4:29 left.

That proved enough to put a stamp on Barangay Ginebra’s total domination of the second half and quash whatever drive the Realtors may still have had.

It was a different story in the first two quarters.

With Tubid scoring eight straight points during a 13-4 run to start the second period, the Kings seemed well on their way to a runaway win.

Those thoughts quickly vanished when Aljamal came in to drain three triples and, with help from Johnson and Gabby Espinas (13 points), led SLR in whittling the deficit to just 37-48.

But the Realtors couldn’t slice the gap down to a single digit in the last quarter.

Individual Scores:

Quarter Scores: 27-13, 51-37, 77-63, 102-85.

IT’s hard to say goodbye to those who gave you unforgettable memories.

Since when the Sta. Lucia Realtors captured the Philippine Cup title two years ago with 2008 MVP Kelly Williams and rookie of the year Ryan Reyes scoring and playing with tenacity all-throughout their career, the Realtors will never be the same again without them.

Sta. Lucia Team governor Buddy Encarnado and head coach Boyet Fernandez were in tears when they announced that Williams, Reyes and Charles Waters have already traded to Talk ‘N Text last May 13.

“It’s so hard to find the key players only to lose them,” said SLR’s board governor Buddy Encarnado. “For the good of the players and the team, this is the best possible thing that can happen to the two, under the circumstances.”

“I’m hoping that they (Williams and Reyes) will continue their best under their new team, knowing full well that I’m privileged to have a hand involving these fine gentlemen,” said Encarnado.

Sta. Lucia Realty, in return, received veteran Ali Peek, Nic Belasco, while former San Beda players Pong Escobal, Yousif Aljamal and Rogemar Menor will be reunited as Realtors.

Before Sta. Lucia Realty, Talk ‘N Text traded Mark Isip and a 2010 second round pick to Barako Coffee to get Aljamal and Menor who were then sent to Sta. Lucia along with Peek, Belasco and Escobal.

“All I can do now is maximized my remaining old players and mix it with my new players,” said Fernandez, hoping that Belasco and Peek will help the Realtors in shaded lane while Escobal, Menor andAljamal  will help them man the wings.

The Realtors are currently holding a 4-5 win-loss log.

Peek is averaging almost 10 points and eight boards, while Belasco and Escobal were sharing limited minutes for Talk ‘N Text. Aljamal almost averaged 11 points and Menor was almost averaging seven points.

HIGH-SCORING import Anthony Johnson had a sizzling performance to lift Sta. Lucia Realty to a 91-87 win against Alaska on Wednesday in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Johnson tallied 36 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals, while 6’6 forward Kelly Williams wound up with 15 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists. Ryan Reyes and Nelbert Omolon had 10 points each.

The Realtors made it five in a row over the Aces in their head-on duels in the import-laden tourney.

The Aces appeared headed for a win when they ignited a bristling 16-6 run to surge ahead at 87-83 with 1:59 left to play.

The Realtors, however, didn’t give up, coming up with a decisive endgame run to salvage the game.

Sta. Lucia dealt Alaska a fourth loss against the same number of wins.

Cyrus Baguio put in 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, keying the run that had Alaska racing ahead entering the final stretch.

LA Tenorio had his sterling exploits before missing crucial shots at endgame that hastened their downfall.

Individual Scores:

Quarter Scores: 14-22, 43-39, 67-61, 91-87

VETERAN center Marlou Aquino stood up among giants Saturday to guide Sta. Lucia Realty to a 108-94 routing of Coca-Cola in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The 6-foot-9 Aquino posted 20 points for the first time in three years in addition to his three assists and a block for the Realtors back-to-back wins that improved them to 3-4 win-loss log.

“Give it to the big fellow,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez. “I guess he was challenged playing against Asi (Taulava) and Cap (Dennis Espino). If he plays that way consistently we’ll be tough to beat.”

Aquino has not scored a 20-point game since scoring 22 points against Red Bull in Game 2 of their 2006-07 Philippine Cup quarterfinal series.

Import Anthony Johnson, showing familiarity to Philippine basketball, had another monster game after finishing season-high 43 points. He scored 29 points and 17 in this game.

“Everybody stepped up tonight. But I guess the key was that the players finally realized that we’re not as strong as we were a season ago and that we don’t stand a chance to win if we don’t play defense,” Fernandez said.

The Realtors forced the Tigers to play without their import James Penny after picking his fifth foul early in the second half.

Sta. Lucia shot 44 percent, going 10 of 27 from the 3-point range while recording a season-high 31 assists. The Realtors also capitalized on the Tigers’ 24 turnovers that netted them 29 points.

Ryan Reyes piled up 15 points and dished out eight assists, while Kelly Williams made 14 and took nine rebounds for the Realtors.

Coca-Cola (4-4) lost its third in a row and fourth in its last five games.

Individual Scores:

Sta. Lucia 108 – Johnson 29, Aquino 20, Reyes 15, Williams 14, Daa 8, Custodio 6, Espinas 6, Urbiztondo 5, Mendoza 3, Misolas 2, Omolon 0.

Coca-Cola 94 – David 26, Lanete 16, Penny 15, Taulava 11, Gonzales 7, Macapagal 6, Rizada 5, Espino 4, Bono 2, Cruz 2, Allera 0, Ross 0, Antonio 0.

Quarter Scores: 28-23, 50-43, 78-68, 108-94.

STA. LUCIA Realty survived Air21’s furious fourth quarter rally to win in overtime, 106-98, and stop a three-game skid on Sunday in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Kelly Williams added 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Ryan Reyes had 15 along with eight rebounds and nine assists also for the Realtors.

Jason Forte led the Express with 26 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, while Mike Cortez finished with 17 points and Wesley Gonzales had 15.

Individual Scores:

Sta. Lucia 106 – Johnson 43, Williams 17, Reyes 15, Urbiztondo 9, Daa 7, Mendoza 5, Custodio 4, Espinas 4, Omolon 2, Misolas 0, Belano 0.

Quarter Scores: 36-18, 58-36, 73-63, 91-91, 106-98.