Fast-starting Burger King avoids Sta. Lucia sweep, forces Game 3

MANILA, Philippines – Burger King went on a fast start and then coasted along in a 94-81 drubbing of Sta. Lucia to forge a rubber-match in their Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup quarterfinals series Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum. Unheralded Mark Yee and Egay Billones led the Whoppers' early charge that saw the team sitting on a 46-34 halftime lead. Billones topscored with 19 points, Yee had a conference-high 17 markers, Arwind Santos added 13, while Shawn Daniels was a monster off the boards with 24 rebounds plus 12 points. The win leveled the best-of-three series between the two teams at 1-1, with the decisive Game 3 to decide which between the Whoppers and Realtors advance to the semis against top seed San Miguel will be played on June 14. Sta. Lucia was led by Anthony Johnson, who had 21 points and 21 rebounds despite playing with a hurting left groin. The Realtors last threatened early in the fourth when Denok Miranda scored on a bank shot to make it a 78-74 contest. But Billones and Yee doused the rally by hitting three straight baskets for an 81-74 count. – GMANews.TV