Realtors nip Barakos in double OT

Sta. Lucia Realty redeemed itself from its sorry loss to an all-Filipino Alaska Milk squad in its last outing, squeezing out a 105-104 double-overtime win over Red Bull Barako last night in the San Mig Coffee PBA Fiesta Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Damien Owens best typified the hard work the Realtors put in the contest as the returning import came up with a near quadruple double game with 25 points, 16 rebounds, 11 steals and seven assists in a no-relief job.

Five Sta. Lucia locals also scored in double figures although the team still needed to come up with a tough defensive stand down the stretch to nail its sixth win in 14 games.

The Realtors practically ganged up on Quemont Greer in the closing seconds, foiling the Red Bull import’s make-or-break attempt at the basket to preserve their one-point victory.

The Barakos suffered their second straight defeat and their seventh overall in 14 games.

"It was a hard game which we won on sheer hard work," said Sta. Lucia coach Alfrancis Chua.

"That’s what this team needs to win games. Without hard work or putting in just 50 or 60 percent of our efforts, we won’t go anywhere in this league. And I’m hoping the boys realize that," Chua added.

"We’ve got to play hard. If you’re playing teams like Alaska Milk and Red Bull, they won’t just quit. So we can’t afford taking a day off," said Owens, back for another tour of duty with Sta. Lucia which he powered to its lone championship in the league in the 2001 Governors Cup.

Owens exerted tremendous effort that he nearly matched his career-high 12 steals done in the Continental Basketball Association a few years back.

The heady import actually had a chance to win the game right in regulation play but missed a short jumper in the closing seconds.

In the first overtime, the Realtors put up a good defense in the final 19.4 seconds to preserve a 96-all deadlock.

The Realtors surged ahead for good, 105-102, in the second overtime on a four-point binge by Chester Tolomia and Owens.

Greer scored on a hard drive versus Owens to narrow the gap at 104-105 with 29 ticks to go. Then, after Owens missed another short jumper, Greer pulled down the defensive rebound and went coast-to-coast in a bid to salvage the game to no avail.