Rookie sparks SLR past Air21

Sta. Lucia went to Fil-Am rookie sensation Ryan Reyes when its top gun Kelly Williams groped for form as it dealt Air21 its worst beating in franchise history, 115-80, last night in the Smart PBA Philippine Cup at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

Reyes, out with an injured right heel in the Realtors’ 94-100 setback to Red Bull Friday, poured all his 14 points in the first half, including 10 in the second quarter that keyed the Realtors’ breakaway en route to the one-sided victory, their second in five games.

“I didn’t expect him (Reyes) to play like this since he’s just recovering from an injury,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez. “But I’m glad he did, he’s due for this kind of performance.”

Reyes, who played high school ball with reigning NBA three-point king Jason Kapono at Artesia High, knocked in all his three attempts in the second period, including two from behind the arc, as the Realtors stretched their eight-point lead in the first quarter to a whopping 20-point bulge, 56-36, at the turn.

“I come in every game playing my best, hurting or not,” said Reyes, whose father hails from Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Williams, the Realtors’ top gun, struggled for five points in a woeful one-of-eight performance from the field.

But that hardly mattered for Sta. Lucia as Norman Gonzales stepped up to fire 17 points while sophomore Joseph Yeo scattered 16 points, including eight in the opening period that sparked Sta. Lucia’s early surge.

In the nightcap, Talk N‚ Text outplayed an undermanned Red Bull  as it carved out a 115-111 victory in overtime to move up to second place with a 4-2 (win-loss) slate.

It was the Bulls’ second loss against three wins to fall in a tie with the Magnolia Beverage Masters and the Alaska Aces.

The 35-point loss was Air21’s worst since absorbing an 84-118 setback at the hands of the Coca-Cola Tigers in the 2003 Reinforced Conference. It was also the largest deficit by any team since the Welcoat Dragons fell to the then San Miguel Beermen, 79-119, last May 23.

Wynne Arboleda and KJ Canaleta scored 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Air21, which dropped into a tie with Sta. Lucia at sixth place.