SLR makes Shell No.1; Win over Pop pushes SMB to 2nd

Dennis Espino and Marlou Aquino came out to play serious basketball in the final game of their short-lived stint in the PBA All-Filipino Cup last night, and Sta. Lucia made Shell the top seed in the conference’s playoff phase with a 79-64 win over Pop Cola last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Espino and Aquino made their presence felt by imposing their strength at the paint and their teammates took the cue as they went out of the season-opening tournament with flourish.

Despite the victory, the Realtors, however, finished deadlast in the 10-team field with a 4-10 win-loss card.

Nonetheless, Sta. Lucia’s win had its effect on the leaderboard, allowing Shell to gain the No. 1 spot at the end of the elimination round over San Miguel Beer. The Turbo Chargers and the Beermen actually ended tied with identical 9-5 win-loss marks but the former seized the top seeding on the strength of a superior quotient.

Had Pop Cola beat Sta. Lucia, the Panthers would have made it a three-way tie among themselves, the Turbochargers and the Beermen. In this case, San Miguel would have emerged on top with the best quotient.

Sta. Lucia, however, played the spoiler's role.

Though long out of contention for the Final Eight, the Realtors showed grit and determination, and even played extra physical in stalling the Panthers at 8-6.

Actually, the game had no bearing on Pop Cola’s bid as, win or lose, the Panthers would finish third with the Purefoods Hotdogs coming at fourth.

Nonetheless, the Panthers also put up a tough stand, engaging the Realtors in a rugged contest that ace player Rudy Hatfield even suffering a busted lower lip in a collision with Espino in the first two quarters.

Hatfield and Espino had another collision in the third quarter and the two were assessed double-technical foul for nearly mixing it up at center court.

Espino had the last laugh as he outplayed Hatfield, tallying 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists in leading the Realtors to the victory. Aquino backed up his Twin Tower with 19 points.