Brown keeps Pals afloat

Derrick Brown dished out a performance that produced a sterling win for Sta. Lucia Realty and guaranteed him another job on foreign soil upon the completion of his latest PBA stint.

Brown showcased his A-game before a good Sunday crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, including scouts of the SK Knights ballclub in South Korea, and his local teammates picked up their own games as the Realtors walloped the Talk n Text Phone Pals, 114-104, to stay in the hunt for a twice-to-beat incentive in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference wildcard plays.

The league leading scorer with an average of 38.2 points a game, Brown outdid himself with a splendid job that netted 42 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block against four turnovers.

"It’s a done deal. Presyo na lang ang paguusapan," said player-agent Mike Gonzalez on a deal he got for Brown with the SK Knights after the Sta. Lucia import’s game versus the Phone Pals.

With Brown’s explosive performance rubbing on Dennis Espino, Paolo Mendoza and Marlou Aquino, the Realtors became more offensive-oriented and got away with their biggest production in a game in about six and a half years.

Espino fired 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting, Mendoza made 20 including five triples and Aquino added 16 for the Realtors who drew closer with the front-runners at sixth place on a third straight win and seventh in 15 games in all. The Phone Pals stayed at fourth place despite a seventh loss also in 15 outings.

"Our target before was just to avoid the ninth and 10th places. But since we have gained grounds on the leaders and we’re now in the middle, we’re now crossing our fingers we can make the Top Four," said Sta Lucia coach Alfrancis Chua.

Shell, behind clutch baskets by Rensy Bajar and Ronald Tubid, arrested a two-game skid with a 107-100 win over FedEx in the second game.

"We notice lahat ng tumatalo sa San Miguel, tinatalo namin. Coke beat San Miguel and we beat them. Talk n Text also beat San Miguel and we beat them too. Nakakabawi rin kami doon sa mga tumalo sa amin noong first round," added Chua who dedicated their victory to his mother Osmandita and wife Jocelyn on this Mother’s Day.