After nine years of fruitless campaign, Sta. Lucia Realty finally emerged a PBA champion last night, beating San Miguel Beer, 75-72, in Game Six of their best-of-seven showdown for the Governors Cup crown at the Araneta Coliseum.
A shattering triple from unheralded Chris Tan in the final 3.3 seconds of the contest found the heart of the Beermen and powered the Realtors to the victory — their first PBA crown since the Realty firm joined the league in 1993.
"We thank the Good Lord for giving us heart to accomplish this feat. We really worked hard and dedicated ourselves for this," said Black. "What a way to win this with a three-point shot."
Truly, it was a rare way to win a championship.
Tan, plucked out by his stepdad-coach in the last 22 seconds for the fired-up Gerald Francisco whose back-to-back triples put the Realtors to a 70-59 lead midway in the fourth, found himself free in San Miguel’s defensive rotation that focused on Owens and Aquino. Then he launched the shot from far beyond the arc that found nothing but net.
That shattered the 72-all tie and triggered a pandemonium at the Sta. Lucia side as the Realtors seized the lead at a time when most feared they were about to crack up.
The Beermen, who battled back from 14 points down, 50-64, in the fourth quarter mainly on the efforts Lamont Strothers, actually had a chance to force the overtime but Danny Seigle flubbed his attempt over the outstretched arms of Sta. Lucia defenders.
"My dad designed the play. We’re actually going to Damian (Owens) but his path was blocked," said Tan.
Before Tan sank the heroic shot, Strothers tied the game for the last time with a twisting layup off Owens and Dennis Espino with 26.6 seconds left in the contest.
"I really can’t believe he took that shot. A three-pointer from 26 feet in Game Six of a best-of-seven," said Black of Tan’s shot.
Tan went 0-of-8 from the arc in the first five games of the series where he scored a combined output of five points.