Realtors go for second crown
Boyet Fernandez has never won a PBA title during his 12-year career as a player, but today, he can end the drought as a coach and give Sta. Lucia Realty a second crown in franchise history.
The Realtors gun for all the marbles as they face — hopefully for the last time this conference — the Giants of Purefoods in Game 6 of the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup Finals at 7 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
With a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series following an 88-76 victory in Game 5, Sta. Lucia actually has two chances of taking the crown — today, and if not, on Sunday with the sudden-death seventh game.
But Fernandez isn’t looking to a Game 7.
"We’ll finish it on Game 6," the 37-year-old Fernandez, who is only in his second conference as mentor of Sta. Lucia after replacing Alfrancis Chua prior to last season’s Fiesta Cup, said.
Sta. Lucia, which joined the PBA in 1993, won its first title during the 2001 Governors’ Cup against San Miguel Beer.
However, according to Fernandez, they’re expecting a tough battle against the Giants, who will have James Yap back from a one-game suspension.
"They’re a strong team with or without him (Yap). We just have to be ready for them," Fernandez said. "They are a very determined and disciplined team. We have to play our A-game to beat them."
Yap served a one-game suspension after he nearly broke the nose of SLR guard Joseph Yeo in an apparent retaliation to a hard ‘karate chop’ foul in the final moments of Game 3, which Purefoods won, 118-107.
The Giants won Game 4, 106-98, but the absence of Yap, also fined R20,000, in Game 5 proved too much as the Realtors came out with the win.
Yap, the 2006 Most Valuable Player (MVP) who turned 25 last February 15, is averaging 27.25 points per game in this series.
"I’m ready," Yap said. "Ako naman ginagawa ko lang ang part ko to help the team. Hindi ko binibigyan ng pressure sarili ko. Hindi porke bumalik ako mananalo na kami. S’yempre kailangan tulung-tulong kami ng mga teammates ko."
"Disappointed pa din ako(with the suspension), pero wala na sa akin ‘yun, nangyari na eh. Focus na lang ako sa Game 6," Yap added.
Even the Giants mentor Ryan Gregorio is confident his team can still salvage the series, but they have to come out strong again like they did in Games 3 and 4.
"We still can win even with so much distraction," the 35-year-old Gregorio said. "Winning Game 6, staying alive and sending the series to a seventh game is enough motivation for us."
In the PBA, only five teams were able to bounce back from a 0-2 deficit.
Purefoods, aiming to win its fifth All-Filipino title and eighth overall, did it twice against Alaska (2002 Governors’ Cup Finals and 2006 Philippine Cup).
The Giants resumed practice yesterday after resting last Monday.
Gregorio said his players, particularly Yap, are confident of coming back after a tough loss to the Realtors.
"I’ve not seen him as focused as this one coming into the game. He’s still hurting, but ang maganda kay James is that he knows how to channel his frustration. We’ll come back," Gregorio added.
Aside from Yap, the Giants will rely on forward Kerby Raymundo, who averaged 22 points and eight rebounds in the series, as well as Marc Pingris, Peter June Simon, Rommel Adducul and Roger Yap.
As for the Realtors, they will also have back Yeo, who served a one-game suspension and fined R30,000 for his F2 foul on Noy Castillo with 17 seconds left of Game 4.
Also leading SLR are Kelly Williams, Dennis Espino, Nelbert Omolon and rookie Ryan Reyes, while giving support are Marlou Aquino and Dennis Miranda.
Source:mb.com.ph
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