Sta. Lucia snaps RoS Lewis’ Fiesta Cup win streak

MANILA, Philippines – Sta. Lucia finally dealt Jai Lewis his first loss in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup as the Realtors trampled the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 109-100, at the Astrodome Friday night. Anthony Johnson won his match up against the burly and highly-touted Lewis by scoring a game-high 34 points, collecting nine rebounds and coming through with five blocks including a key one on the Rain or Shine import with 22 seconds left as the Realtors tied the Elasto Painters at second spot with a 5-2 (win-loss) record. Norman Gonzales hit 5-for-8 from the three-point area to finish with 17 points to go with 10 rebounds, and Dennis Espino and Marlou Aquino combined for 21 points for the Realtors, who played without Joseph Yeo because of a sprained left ankle. “We tried to limit the touches of Lewis," said SLR coach Boyet Fernandez. “And Marlou and Dennis knew already how to defend Lewis." The much-ballyhooed Rain or Shine import wasn’t as effective this time compared to the game he had against Burger King just two nights ago, where he ended up with 40 points and 23 rebounds in a 114-108 win. The hulking import was held to only 23 points this time around – including four the entire second half – and could only pull down 15 rebounds in 41 minutes of action. Lewis, too, already had four fouls with still 7:57 remaining in the third period. It was the first time that Lewis ended up defeated since replacing Charles Clark III. Sol Mercado led the Elasto Painters with a personal conference-high 27 points to go with five assists and Gabe Norwood and Jireh Ibañes each added 12 points for Rain or Shine, which succeeded in overhauling a 24-point deficit in the third quarter but failed to sustain their ferocious charge. “I still give credit to Rain or Shine, they came back even if they were down by 24 points," Fernandez said. Rain or Shine unloaded a 19-0 blast since that commanding gap to chop down the lead to within 49-44, and even took the lead at 57-56 on a triple from Ibañes with 6:08 left to go in the third quarter. But just as quick as the Elasto Painters fought back, the Realtors were as equally swift in returning the favor. Sta. Lucia retaliated with a 12-1 run of its own to once again control the tempo, 68-58, a lead it never relinquished. The closest RoS could come to was at 104-100 on a triple from Mercado with 25 seconds left to play. – GMANews.TV