MANILA, Philippines – Import Anthony Johnson produced another solid game of 42 points and 24 rebounds as Sta. Lucia bundled out Coca-Cola, 94-88, last night to barge into the quarterfinals of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Johnson continued to frolic in the absence of Kelly Williams, pumping in 13 points in the third quarter as the Realtors battled back from a seven-point deficit before thwarting the Tigers’ fightback in the stretch to carve out the win and arrange a clash with the Burger King Titans in the best-of-three quarterfinals tomorrow.
“What can I say about our import? He played like Kelly (Williams) and AJ (Johnson) combined,” said SLR coach Boyet Fernandez, who will still be missing his prized Fil-Am forward for another three weeks.
Williams, the prolific Sta. Lucia swingman, has missed the Realtors’ game for the sixth straight time due to rare blood disorder.
“He (Johnson) said he has no plans of going home yet. He’s really determined to play and extend his stay with the team,” said Fernandez.
Although the slick, high-leaping Johnson fell a point shy of matching his PBA personal-best output, he succeeded in hauling down a conference-high 24 rebounds, including a personal best of 11 offensive caroms.
So awesome was Johnson in the third where he single-handedly carried the Realtors back in the contest after trailing by seven in the third quarter of the contest that featured 14 lead changes and five deadlocks.
Johnson also came through with three clutch putbacks, including one off a wild shot by teammate Denok Miranda that gave Sta. Lucia, the 2007-08 All-Filipino champion, an 89-84 cushion.
Ryan Reyes and Nelbert Omolon scattered 16 and 11 points, respectively, to provide the needed backup for Johnson.
“My hats off to the whole team for stepping up in the absence of Kelly,” said Fernandez.
James Penny paced the Tigers with 33 points but the Coca-Cola import was held to just four points in the fourth quarter in the face of the Realtors no-nonsense defense.
Ronjay Buenafe and Asi Taulava had 15 points apiece.
It was a see-saw battle in the first three quarters with Coca-Cola snatching a 19-18 lead before Sta. Lucia wrested the upperhand at the turn, 45-42.
They battled out through several lead changes in the third with Realtors eventually regaining the lead at 68-63 entering the fourth quarter.
The Tigers actually appeared headed for a breakaway run after Penny squeezed through for a lay-up to give Coca-Cola a 63-56 lead midway in the third.
But the Realtors were far from being finished.
Omolon hit a triple to spark a stirring 12-0 blitz as the Realtors wrested the lead for good.