TACLOBAN – All-Filipino champion Sta. Lucia Realty stayed unbeaten after three games in the Smart PBA Fiesta Conference, repulsing Barangay Ginebra and new import Ernest Brown, 101-97, in a road game at the Tacloban Convention Center here last night.
The Realtors took the half at 53-35 then held off repeated Ginebra uprisings as they rejoined the Coca-Cola Tigers in the lead on their identical 3-0 win-loss cards.
Ginebra gained no immediate relief from the entry of Brown and the return of Fil-Am player Alex Crisano, who presented clearance from the Office of the President.
The Kings suffered a third straight loss, sliding to the bottom of the chart in the company of the Welcoat Dragons.
Torrid shooting by Wesley Wilson, Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams enabled the Realtors to lead by as many as 20 points although team captain Dennis Espino sat out the contest due to an injury.
Wilson, Reyes, Williams scored 22 points each with the Sta. Lucia import also providing intimidating defensive presence, having a better overall performance than his debuting Ginebra counterpart.
Brown, a former Miami Heat and Boston Celtic in the NBA, tossed in 24 points, including back-to-back baskets in a decisive run pushing the Kings within one at 94-95.