Sta. Lucia coasts to easy win over Shell

Sta. Lucia Realty faced little resistance as it beat Shell, 82-69, last night and gained a share of the lead in the PBA Governors Cup before a sparse crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was the third victory in four games for coach Norman Black’s charges who easily recovered lost ground after absorbing an 80-87 Friday-the-13th loss to Tanduay. The Realtors won their first two games this conference against Mobiline and Ginebra.

Sta. Lucia, the losing finalist to San Miguel Beer in the recent Commissioner’s Cup, now joins Red Bull and Mobiline on top of the eight-team field while Shell fell into a deeper hole with its 1-4 slate.

The undersized crowd at the Big Dome was a direct result of yesterday’s Luzon-wide power failure which also caused monstrous traffic jams within the metropolis.

The Turbo Chargers missed star center Benjie Paras for the eighth straight game as the two-time MVP (1989 and 1999) is still recovering from an injury.

Five players scored in double figures for the Realtors with import Joe Temple leading the way with his 19 markers. Fil-Am Rob Wainwright, only in his second game since being given the green light by the Justice Department, chipped in 14.

Temple, according to Black, proved effective in containing Shell counterpart John Morton who could do no better than 11 points.

"He definitely can play defense," said Black of his import. "He was able to contain Morton tonight. He didn’t shut him down, he just contained him."

The Turbo Chargers were in the thick of the fight only in the opening quarter where they battled the Realtors to four deadlocks and five lead changes in the first five minutes en route to a 25-20 edge.

Things turned around in the second quarter with the Realtors never looking back after taking a slim 41-38 halftime lead.

Morton made just two of 16 attempts from the field with Temple challenging every shot, forcing Mark Telan to carry the load for the Turbo Chargers on his way to a game-high 23 points.

Meanwhile, San Miguel tries to check a two-game skid when it takes on Red Bull today at the Cebu City Coliseum. The game is set at 4:30 p.m.