Only five weeks together as a team and the new kid on the PBA block had shown promise in a 93-83 demolition of reigning Governors Cup titlist Sta. Lucia Realty last night at the Caruncho Gym in Pasig.
It came following its 70-64 drubbing of another highly-touted team in Shell last Saturday and that staked the team to sixth place in a tie with Coca-Cola on identical 2-2 win-loss records. Sta. Lucia fell to 1-2.
Showing marked improvement in its game, the Express dominated the Realtors, taking a 51-34 halftime lead and holding 20-point leads in two occasions at the outset of the final half.
So hapless were the Realtors that coach Norman Black shuffled 12 players in his bid to find the right combination to no avail. Victor Thomas erupted for a game-high 30 points that went with 13 rebounds and seven assists but his partner Lelan McDougal hardly mattered in the contest, putting in only five points and six rebounds. Black sat out McDougal in the last quarter.
Tim Moore and Jarmaine Walker, meanwhile, complemented each other very well, finishing with combined numbers of 55 points, 22 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks.
Then, there were Bong Alvarez, Jerry Codiñera, Dindo Pumaren and Yancy de Ocampo who, once again, put in significant contributions.
While Moore and Walker showed up Thomas and McDougal, Alvarez had his own showtime. Alvarez’ highlight play was a steal on Gerard Franciso which he turned into a thunderous jam, making it 58-44 for FedEx.
In the next two plays, Moore had his own jam plus a free throw then Alvarez took another steal and scored on a breakaway layup as the Express erected a 63-44 spread.
The Express closed the third quarter at 73-57 and held leads of no less than 12 the rest of the way.
"It was a great effort on our part. We’re slowly getting there," said FedEx coach Derick Pumaren.
Meanwhile, action returns to the Astrodome today with Red Bull gunning for a fourth straight win against Alaska in the 3:45 p.m. curtain-raiser. Shell and Ginebra clash in the other game at 5:45.