WILLIAMS BINGE PROPELS STA. LUCIA PAST GINEBRA

WILLIAMS BINGE PROPELS STA. LUCIA PAST GINEBRA
Mendoza’s game-winning basket gives Realtors even 6-6 card
Sunday, 09 December 2007

Kelly Williams was struggling to find his range. But when he found it, he was just unstoppable.

Williams buried four booming triples in the fourth quarter as Sta. Lucia pulled the rug from under Barangay Ginebra, 79-78, Sunday and joined Talk N Text at fifth spot in the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Held to just two points in the first three quarters, Williams found his range and drained four triples in the final canto, including three in the last three minutes to erase an eight-point deficit.

Paolo Mendoza, who hasn’t really found his range lately, buried a running, fade-away jumper with 4.6 seconds that turned out to be the game winner as the Kings missed a pair of attempts in the dying seconds.

With the win, the Realtors moved up to No. 5 alongside the Phone Pals after sealing their second straight win and sixth overall against the same number defeats.

Jay Jay Helterbrand waxed hot for 11 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth period but he missed a triple that would have snared the Kings the victory. Long-limbed Rafi Reavis had the chance to steal the game one last time but his follow-up at the buzzer bounced off the rim, sending the Realtors into frantic celebration.

“That was a big shot by Paolo Mendoza. He’s been trying to find his range in the past games, he found it in time to save us,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

Ginebra, which led by as much as 10 points, 59-49, late in the third quarter, fell to their eighth setback against five wins.

The Kings made their move late in the third quarter when they turned a 49-all deadlock to a 59-51 advantage, thanks to a 10-2 blitz going into the final period.

Rookie Ryan Reyes, picked third behind Welcoat’s Joe De Vance and Magnolia’s Samigue Eman, exploded with nine points in the first quarter as the Realtors built a 24-16 advantage.

But the Kings came back strong and outscored the Realtors in the second period, 17-11, to cut their deficit to two points, 33-35.

Although Sta. Lucia was eluding the defense with crisp passes, Ginebra was hitting shots inside, thanks to the bull-strong pair of Eric Menk and Billy Mamaril, who combined for 15 points and 11 boards in the first half. (JV)

The scores:

Sta. Lucia 79- Williams 16, Espino 16, Omolon 12, Reyes 6, Mendoza 6, Yeo 5, Miranda 4, Mamaclay 0, Coronel 0, Daa 0, Gonzales 0

Brgy. Ginebra 78- Helterbrand 19, Menk 14, Salvacion 12, Artadi 9, Mamaril 9, Tubid 7, Caguioa 6, Reavis 2, Macapagal 0, Santos 0.

Quarterscores: 24-16; 35-33; 51-59; 79-78.


/copied from: http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1906/59/