WILL it be Anthony Johnson?

Life goes on for the Sta. Lucia Realtors after ending their stint in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup last Sunday.

When asked about their import next conference, Sta. Lucia Realtors mentor coach Boyet Fernandez said: “We are still discussing about our import next conference, but AJ (Anthony Johnson) is also considered. We’ll see it.”

The 6-foot-6 Johnson, who established a personal high 42 points and 24 rebounds last conference, may return to the country to suit up for the Realtors again, according to reports, but nothing is final yet.

Johnson was almost averaging 25 points and 20 rebounds last Fiesta conference.

Fernandez and the Realtors are aiming to improve their quarterfinal finish last Fiesta conference.

“That’s our goal and we’re targeting to return to practice two weeks from now,” he said. “We are hoping our players will also be in good health.”

Last Fiesta Conference, Kelly Williams, the team’s go-ahead player, was sideline to injury due to blood disorder and did not play most of their games in the last round, including the quarterfinals when they lost to the Burger King Whopper.

If ever Johnson returns and everybody goes healthy, the Realtors are absolutely competitive than the last Fiesta conference without doubt.

The addition of Gabby Espinas, Jason Misolas and Josh Urbiztondo will be a big help to Johnson, if ever he suits up, and to Sta. Lucia’s campaign.

STA. LUCIA Realty took an early exit in the wildcard round after losing to a lucky Rain or Shine squad, 86-90, on Sunday in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Despite the all-out effort of Kelly Williams, Josh Urbiztondo and Marlou Aquino, the Realtors failed to sustain their late surge capped by Urbiztondo’s successive triples that ended their campaign this conference at eighth.

Kelly Williams came up with a huge 27 points and 18 rebounds to lead Sta. Lucia.

Marlou Aquino, Sta. Lucia’s veteran center, had a big night with 16 points, Joseph Yeo added 12 but starting guard Ryan Reyes managed just four points, going into foul trouble early that kept him on the bench on crucial stretches.

A three-pointer by Mike Hrabak tied the count at 74-74 with 5:59 to play. In the ensuing play, Urbiztondo, who finished with 20 points, knocked another trey to put the Realtors back in front, 18 seconds later.

But the Realtors couldn’t hold on to it, missing their next five attempts from the floor. And the Rain or Shine Elasto Paintmasters cashed in on the opportunity.

Chan’s second three of the night tied the count at 77-77 with 4:39 to go. Then Eddie Laure hit an eight-footer from the left side for a two-point lead before Chan drained his last trey to give his team an 82-77 lead with 3:19 remaining.

Sta. Lucia never recovered from there although it provided a scare in the closing seconds when Urbiztondo made a long three over Mercado to pull the Realtors within 86-88 with 31 seconds left.

Rain or Shine withstood the last threat as Laure hit a floater in the lane over Marlou Aquino to stretch their lead to four with 11 seconds to play.

The Elasto Painters, who won just four games in the elimination compared to 10 by Sta. Lucia, made just 40 percent of its shots in the first half but held the Realtors to a lower 33% to return to their locker room at the break holding on to a 40-34 lead.

Ryan Arana (13 points, five assists) and Mark Telan (nine points, three shot blocks) made their presence felt in the third quarter as the Elasto Painters held off repeated rallies by the Realtors and stayed ahead, 66-62, at the end of the period.

The setback was a painful one for the Realtors, who finished the eliminations just a win shy of a playoff for an outright quarterfinal berth.

It also looked like Sta. Lucia had seized momentum when it opened the fourth with three successive 3-pointers — two from rookie Josh Urbiztondo — and grabbed a 73-69 lead.

But the Elasto Painters were not about to fold up.

It was the first time since the 2008 Fiesta Conference the ninth seed booted out the No. 6-ranked squad in the wildcard plays when ironically it was Sta. Lucia who eliminated Alaska back then.

Individual Scores:

Rain or Shine 90 – Mercado 18, Norwood 15, Chan 14, Arana 13, Telan 9, Reyes 8, Laure 8, Hrabak 3, Cruz 2, Dulay 0, Ibanes 0.

Sta. Lucia 86 – Williams 27, Urbiztondo 20, Aquino 16, Yeo 12, Reyes 4, Omolon 4, Misolas 2, Pacana 1, Daa 0, Espinas 0, Mendoza 0.

Quarter Scores: 20-22, 40-34, 66-62, 90-86

STA. LUCIA Realty fell to the do-or-die wildcard round after losing to Purefoods, 78-88, on Friday in the end of the elimination round of 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Although Sta. Lucia mentor Boyet Fernandez is disappointed when his team missed an outright quarterfinals slot, he remained confident they can make a run and get into the quarters by sweeping the dangerous wildcard round.

The Realtors are set to face the Rain or Shine Elasto Paintmasters on Sunday at the same venue in the wildcard round at 4:00pm.

Joseph Yeo tried his best to carry Sta. Lucia especially in times when Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams struggled on the floor.

He finished with 17 points and five assists to lead the Realtors.

Veteran Marlou Aquino, who played his best back-to-back games after scoring 17 points against Barako Bull, posted 14 points, while rookie Josh Urbiztondo contributed 13 points and Williams had 11 and 16 rebounds with four assists and two blocks.

Sta. Lucia finished the double round elimination at sixth with a 10-8 win-loss slate.

The Giants played a solid game all night, frustrating the Realtors in their bid to get a playoff crack at an outright quarterfinals entry.

The Giants engaged the Realtors in a defensive battle, trailing by four, in the first quarter, before surging ahead, 41-35, at halftime.

They also established firm control in the third quarter and went on to complete the win giving Purefoods a four-game closing romp in the elimination round.

Alaska Milk drew level with San Miguel Beer on top with identical 13-5 win-loss slates. They both earned an outright semifinals seat.

Purefoods and Barangay Ginebra were next at 12-6, followed by Talk n Text at 11-7, Sta. Lucia at 10-8, Burger King and Coca-Cola at 6-12, Rain or Shine at 4-14 and Barako Bull at 3-15.

Individual Scores:

Purefoods 88 – Yap J. 19, Canaleta 17, Yap R. 12, Pingris 11, Raymundo 11, Artadi 9, Allado 7, Reavis 2, Timberlake 0, Maierhofer 0.

Sta. Lucia 78 – Yeo 17, Aquino 14, Urbiztondo 13, Williams 11, Omolon 9, Daa 6, Espinas 3, Waters 2, Mendoza 2, Misolas 1, Larong 0, Reyes 0.

Quarter Scores: 15-19, 41-35, 70-59, 88-78

PROVING that he is still belong on this league, veteran 6′9 center Marlou Aquino showed flashes of his old deadly form to help the Sta. Lucia Realtors rout the Barako Bull Energy Boosters, 108-86, to electrify their outright quarterfinals bid in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

At 37 years old and the fourth oldest in the league, Aquino was the biggest factor in the first half after finishing 13 of his conference high 17 points in the first conference and assists (three). He added five rebounds, which matched his most this conference.

“Marlou has been practicing well. We have had a conditioning drill the past few months and he’s been dedicating himself to that,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

“We need to win on Friday to force at least a triple tie and a playoff,” said SLR coach Boyet Fernandez after his charges notched their 10th win in 17 games.

The Realtors will wind up their campaign against Purefoods at elims end on Friday to finish at 11-7 and tie defending champion Talk ‘N Text and the Giants at 11-7.

The defeat was the 14th in 17 games for cellar-dwelling Barako Bull and it is now left looking for a win over Coca-Cola on Wednesday to keep its flickering hopes of making it past the elimination round.

Also, 4-13 Rain or Shine must lose to Alaska, also on Friday, to forge a playoff between the Energy Boosters and the Elasto Painters for ninth and the last wildcard seat.

“We got to keep working hard and win, that’s it,” said SLR forward Kelly Williams, who recorded his conference-high 14th double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

It’s not that Barako Bull, coming off a morale-boosting 99-97 stunner over TNT last Sunday, did not give SLR some concerns, however.

“I’m happy we managed to overcome this game,” said Fernandez. “Coming into this game kinakabahan ako because Barako Bull is coming off a good win and we are coming off a bad (77-85) loss to Alaska (last Wednesday).”

The loss also meant free rides to the knockout wildcard for Coca-Cola and Burger King since their five wins can only be tied by RoS but not surpassed by either the Painters nor the Boosters.

Yousif Aljamal’s 20 points and 11 rebounds led Barako Bull, which also drew double-digit efforts from Leo Najorda, Alex Crisano and Ogie Menor.

The Energy Boosters actually had a 55-44 advantage off the boards but they simply had no answer to the Realtors’ repeated surges that ripped wide open what started out as a close game.

Undrafted rookie free agent Joshua Urbiztondo finished with 14 points, six rebounds and as many assists, while Ryan Reyes and Gabby Espinas chipped in 11 apiece.  Reyes issued a game-high of 10 assists and four steals.

All of those translated into a big 31-18 fourth quarter for the Realtors, who went into the final period ahead by just 77-68.

Sta. Lucia actually had a big finish in the second period, with Williams scattering 10 points in a 21-5 explosion that plucked the Realtors out of a 41-44 bind and gave them a 62-49 halftime lead.

s SLR erected leads of 20-8 and 24-12.

Aljamal, Najorda and Menor would not let the difference balloon right there as they combined in an 11-0 spurt that gave them a 32-31 edge.

Individual Scores:

STA. LUCIA 108 – Williams 25, Aquino 17, Urbiztondo 14, Reyes 11, Espinas 11, Yeo 10, Larong 8, Daa 4, Misolas 4, Waters 2, Omolon 2, Mendoza.

BARAKO BULL 86 – Aljamal 20, Najorda 19, Crisano 12, Menor 11, Faundo 6, Alonzo 6, Dimaunahan 4, Belano 4, Duncil 2, Hubalde 2, Reyes 0, Chia 0.

Quarter Scores: 31-32, 62-49, 77-68, 108-86.

JOSEPH Yeo fired all 14 points in the second half, including three important baskets in payoff frame, but Sta. Lucia Realty’s comeback bid wasn’t enough to beat Alaska on Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

When Yeo attempted for a game-tying drive off Alaska’s Reynel Hugnatan, the ref immediately called an offensive foul despite the moving defender. Then, Alaska’s three-point lead turned to 83-77 spread with a minute left and Sta. Lucia could not get back.

Kelly Williams fired 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Ryan Reyes had 14 points too and Nelbert Omolon finished with 12 points and nine rebounds for the Realtors, who dropped to 9-7 log.

Alaska improved to 12-3 card – just a game for an outright semifinals slot.

“Joseph Yeo was fantastic for the second straight game. Good for us, Jeff (Cariaso) came out and provided us a real veteran presence, getting huge rebounds and huge points,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

Sta Lucia needs to win its last two games – Barako Bull and Purefoods – to snare an outright quarterfinals slot.

Individual  Scores:

TALKING about excitement and winning, spitfire Joseph Yeo electrified the whole crowd at the Cuneta Astrodome and showed what he could do inside the court when he is on fire.

The 6’0 Yeo unloaded 25 of his personal best 31 points as the Sta. Lucia Realtors outplayed the Burger King Whopper, 83-79, to strengthen their outright quarterfinals bid at the 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.

“The basket sometime is wide as ocean but sometime it’s not,” said Yeo, who posted 9-of-14 in the field and made perfect 7-of-7 in the free throw line with five rebounds. “Good thing was my teammates played tough too.”

Kelly Williams, despite an atrocious 1-of-10 shooting in the foul line, managed to produce 15 points and hauled down 17 rebounds, while Josh Urbiztondo contributed 12 points with three steals and Gabby Espinas had seven points and four rebounds.

The Realtors overcame the fierce-fighting Whoppers, thus, catching up with the Purefoods Giants at fifth place on their identical 9-6 win-loss cards.

The win was Realtors’ follow-up on their 95-91 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Wednesday.

“We know we’re still in the fight for the Top Five and we want to grab the opportunity. We’ll be there fighting,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez. “Joseph (Yeo) is unbelievable tonight.”

SLR and Purefoods are in strong contention for an outright quarterfinals seat with Barangay Ginebra and Talk n Text just a game ahead at 10-6.

Alaska Milk, with an 11-2 card, may clinch the second outright semis berth.

Urbiztondo and Espinas provided help as the Realtors survived a tough battle with ace guard Ryan Reyes sitting out the final half with a sore back.

Alex Cabagnot and Wesley Gonzales had decent showings in their first game in a BK jersey but their efforts went to naught as the Whoppers dropped to 11th loss in 16 games.

Cabagnot made 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one steal while Gonzales added 13 points and six rebounds.

It was a tight game where neither team lead by more than six points.

The Realtors had fallen by five at 63-68 when Yeo returned to the floor and resumed his torrid shooting, pushing SLR back on top at 78-72 and never turning on their back.

Individual Scores:

Sta. Lucia 83 – Yeo 31, Williams 15, Urbiztondo 12, Espinas 7, Daa 6, Reyes 5, Aquino 3, Jaime 2, Pacana 2, Omolon 0, Misolas 0.

Burger King 79 – Cabagnot 17, Gonzales 13, Sharma 10, Buenafe 9, Yee R. 8, Williams 6, Matias 6, Yee M. 5, Quinahan 4, Aban 1, Belga 0.

Quarters: 16-20, 34-34, 61-56, 83-79.

COACH Boyet Fernandez has often used his pick-and-roll play and effectively found the right guy to finish it perfectly: Kelly Williams.

Williams scattered 15 of his 25 points in the final period mostly on different perfect set pick-and-roll plays that powered Sta. Lucia Realty to a close 95-91 win against Rain or Shine on Wednesday in the resumption of 35th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-foot-7 Williams registered 9-of-17 shooting in the field and sank 7-of-12 free throws to go along with 19 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals in 44 minutes of play to strengthen the Realtors outright quarterfinals bid with an 8-6 slate.

Despite the win, Fernandez is hoping to sweep their four remaining games to get a clear shot of an outright quarterfinals slot at the middle of the team standings.

“We can’t be complacent at this point because there are four games left with us,” said Fernandez, referring to last game assignments Burger King, Alaska, Barako Bull and Purefoods in the double elimination round.

“I’m hoping we can sweep all our remaining games. We just need to play tough,” he said. “Before the game I told the players we need to win all our five remaining games if we want an easy way into the quarters. I’m glad they responded well.”

Joseph Yeo scored 12 points and back-up Jason Misolas contributed 10 points and nine rebounds also for the Realtors. Josh Urbiztondo had nine points, while Nelbert Omolon collected 10 rebounds and posted nine points.

Ryan Reyes dished out six assists and got eight points, while Marlou Aquino churned out eight points.

William’s two free throws with 1:59 remaining tied the count at 89 then hit a tough turnaround shot to put the Realtors ahead to stay after a 91-8 lead.

He scored another jumper before Reyes made two free throws to complete an 8-0 wind-up that took the fight away from the Elasto Painters.

“Kelly was really terrific tonight. He stepped up in the closing seconds and made two crucial shots. That’s why he is the leader of this team,” said Fernandez.

The Realtors will go for win No. 9 on Friday against struggling Burger King.

Starting the New Year on a high note, Sta. Lucia posted the games biggest margin at 28-18 late in the first quarter although the game was close the rest of the way, the count being tied seven times.

Rain or Shine, which dropped to a 4-11 slate, appeared to have seized the momentum when Jeff Chan knocked in a three that put the Elasto Painters ahead, 89-87, with 2:12 remaining.

But they went scoreless in the next 1:30 minutes, giving the Realtors the chance.

Gave Norwood scored 18 points and Chan added 17 for the Elasto Painters, who missed 14 of 31 free throws and 8 of 17 in the fourth.

Sta. Lucia out-rebounded ROS, 62-42 and enjoyed a 15-6 edge off the offensive boards in the second half that netted them 14 points.

Individual Scores:

QUARTERS: 28-20, 47-51, 71-69, 95-91.

Reyes, the do-it-all guard, delivered four triples, eight baskets and a perfect 4-of-4 in the foul line, but Talk ‘N Text prevailed in the endgame with Jimmy Alapag and Marc Cardona firing crucial baskets that earned them a 112-105 lead with two minutes left in the game.

2007 MVP Kelly Williams also shared a good performance with 21 and 11 rebounds, while Joseph Yeo scattered 13 points with three triples and eight assists.

Josh Urbiztondo had 12 poinst and six assists, while Nelbert Omolon and Gabby Espinas added 10 and eight points, respectively.

Sta. Lucia dropped to 7-6 win-loss slate, while Talk ‘N Text improved to 9-6.

Individual Scores:

Talk n Text 117 – Cardona 34, Peek 19, Carey 15, Alapag 14, Castro 11, Dillinger 10, De Ocampo R. 10, Escobal 2, Ritualo 2, De Guzman 0, De Ocampo Y. 0, Belasco 0.

Sta. Lucia 112 – Reyes 32, Williams 21, Yeo 13, Urbiztondo 12, Omolon 10, Espinas 8, Daa 6, Aquino 6, Pacana 2, Mendoza 2, Larong 0, Misolas 0.

Quarter Scores: 29-29, 60-52, 87-82, 117-112

STA. LUCIA Realty utilized a strong defensive stop in the waning seconds to stave-off Barangay Ginebra’s furious comeback, 93-88, for seventh win in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Urbiztondo turned his excitement to hard work to amass 22 points on top of 4-of-10 shooting from downtown, while fearless guard Joseph Yeo impressed the crowd with 17 points along with four rebounds and four assists.

“He’s heard a lot about Johnny even back in the United States,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez. “He knows Johnny as a great point guard and he’s honored to play him. For him not to be awed, we talked to him before the game. We challenged him in his match-up with Johnny.”

“We prepared his frame of mind. We told him to give the utmost respect to Johnny outside the court. But play against him without respect inside the court,” he said.

Urbiztondo responded well to the challenge, firing 10 in the payoff period. Yeo’s backbreaking trey in the last minute mark gave Sta. Lucia an 89-85 spread with almost 58 ticks left.

He canned in four charities in the last 24 seconds, helping the Realtors seal their repeat win over the Kings. Sta. Lucia clobbered Ginebra, 93-72, in their previous tiff.

Kelly Williams hauled down a career-high 19 rebounds and added 13 points while Nelbert Omolon had his own double-double game with 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Realtors notched a second straight win following a 98-92 drubbing of the Coca-Cola Tigers Friday.

With a 7-5 win-loss card, the Realtors are now only half-game behind the Kings, the Talk n Text Tropang Texters and the Purefoods Giants who are tied at 8-5.

“It was a big win that got us close to the leaders. We intend to continue to work hard and see what happens,” said Fernandez.

Sta. Lucia and Ginebra figured in a fierce match with the Realtors pulling through in the end on a 9-3 closing run.

The Realtors were down by one, 84-85, when Omolon, Joseph Yeo and Urbiztondo combined for seven unanswered points pushing SLR ahead to stay at 91-85.

Marlou Aquino, who contributed with six points along with three rebounds and a block, stopped finally Eric Menk at the finish.

Sta. Lucia made the key defensive adjustment, putting Aquino on Menk after the Ginebra Menk had bulldozed his way to 16 points against Gabby Espinas and Jason Misolas.

Menk fired 12 points in the final quarter with the last capping a charge that pushed Ginebra ahead at 85-84.

Individual Scores:

Quarter Scores: 24-21, 40-40, 67-60, 93-88.

PLAYING a superb defense all-throughout the game and getting strong offensive output from the bench, the Sta. Lucia Realtors have no reason not to repeat against luckless Coca-Cola even though Paul Asi Taulava returned for the Tigers.

Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams and Josh Urbiztondo dropped a combined 45-point bomb on the Tigers for an energetic 98-92 win on Friday in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Williams, the 2008 MVP, unleashed his scoring act by pouring in 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting in the field to go along with 17 rebounds, six assists and swatted two enemy attempts in a restless 40 minutes of action.

Urbiztondo’s second best performance, though, should not be set aside. He fired six triples for 22 points along with three assists and two steals, while guard Joseph Yeo delivered 14 points.

“It is really good when your shots are going in because it gives you a lot of confidence,” said Urbiztondo, whose first career-high 24 points was against Burger King last November. “We just need to keep going. It is still a long conference.”

Dennis Daa had 11 points, while Nelbert Omolon added nine and veteran center Marlou Aquino, who got six points and five boards, showed flashes of his old form by scoring a dunk on Larry Rodriguez and blocking Mark Macapagal’s shot in the first half

The win has ended the Realtors’ back-to-back losing skid that earned them a 6-5 record, while the Tigers, who led by playmaker Alex Cabagnot, fell to 1-12.

The Realtors took an 87-73 lead and the Tigers’ two successive baskets were able to pull the game to 83-77, but Urbiztondo’s fifth triple gave Sta. Lucia an insurmountable 90-77 cushion in the last three minute mark.

His successive treys late in the second quarter also broke a 41-all tie and shoved the Realtors ahead to stay.

“It is nice to win again. We’ve been really struggling in the past couple of games but tonight the players really worked hard to get the win,” Sta. Lucia Realtors head coach Boyet Fernandez said.

“His energy and effort was awesome. When we signed him up, we knew he’ll be playing a huge role for the team. I’m glad he stepped up big time tonight,” said Fernandez.

Starting forward Gabby Espinas did not play due to sprained left ankle. Ryan Reyes, who was hurting in his groin, managed just three points on 1-of-6 shooting but issued seven assists in 25 minutes of play.

Veteran guard Paolo Mendoza was activated and scored two.

A free throw and a lay-up off a spin move by Mark Macapagal pulled the Tigers within 48-49 at the start of the third.

But Urbiztondo knocked his fourth and fifth treys of the night to cap a 14-5 run by the Realtors and Sta. Lucia stretched the lead to 63-53 late in the quarter.

“Right now we’re still a work in progress. So if by chance we make it outright to the semis it will be just a bonus for us. But I guess making the quarterfinals is more manageable goal for the team,” Fernandez said.

Both teams were so-so from the field and shot poorly from the free throw line.

Sta. Lucia made just 40-of-89 attempts (44 percent) while Coca-Cola went 34-of-82 (41 percent). The Realtors went 8-of-20 from the free throw line while the Tigers were even worse with 19-for-34.

RJ Rizada had a career-high 13 which Magapagal matched. Dennis Espino added 12 and 11 boards for the Tigers.

The losing streak matched the conference’s longest futility and tied the franchise’s worst effort when it went 1-8 in the start of 2006-07 PBA Philippine Cup.

Asi Taulava, who was sidelined for six weeks with a right ankle injury, returned to action but was visibly out of game shape. He grabbed 10 rebounds but scored just 8 points on a 1-of-8 shooting and went 6-of-12 from the line.

Individual Scores:

STA. LUCIA 98 – Williams 23, Urbiztondo 22, Yeo 14, Daa 11, Omolon 9, Aquino 6, Waters 4, Misolas 4, Reyes 3, Mendoza 2, Pacana 0.

COKE 92 – Cabagnot 15, Rizada 13, Macapagal 13, Espino 12, Calimag 8, Taulava 8, Cruz 7, Gonzales W. 6, Gonzales N. 4, Rodriguez 3, Bono 3, Allera 0.

Quarter Scores: 24-24, 49-45, 72-65, 98-92.