Selecta-RP still in freezer

Sta. Lucia Realty shrugged off a listless first-half stint and snapped a two-game skid by beating Selecta Philippine Team, 61-55, in a duel of slumping squads in the Samsung PBA Governors Cup at the Philsports Arena last night.

The Realtors came roaring back in the second half as they overhauled a 14-point deficit at the turn to fashion out the decisive victory.

With the win, Sta. Lucia gained a share of eighth place with San Miguel Beer at 2-3. RP Selecta suffered a fifth straight loss and moved deeper into the standings at 1-5 win-loss card.

Mark David, Victor Thomas and Felix Belano fuelled Sta. Lucia’s mighty surge in the final half, combining for 33 points in the final 20 minutes of play.

After the third quarter, the Realtors reduced their 25-39 halftime deficit to only 43-45.

Halfway through the last quarter, the Realtors methodically pulled away, 57-47, with the team maintainng the pressure on the national hopefuls and cashing in on their rivals’ numerous errors.

"We shot badly in the first half and we thought at halftime that our imports have to perform better and we should have more teamwork. We went on to play much better defensively," said Sta. Lucia coach Norman Black.

"We shortened our rotation in the final half and it seemed to work to our advantage," he added.

Black rotated only seven players in the final half but all of them responded well, keying Sta. Lucia’s big turnaround from a woeful first half.

The Nationals still groped for form despite the debut of Eric Menk.

RP Selecta got off to a strong start and took control in the first 20 minutes of play. Back from injury, Menk himself started strong, coming off the bench to tally nine points and six rebounds in the first half. But he came up with only five rebounds in the second half.

The Nationals committed 19 turnovers after limiting themselves to only seven errors in the opening half. Out of these errors, Sta. Lucia scored 19 points.

It was also a bitter defeat for Asi Taulava who spearheaded Selecta’s charge with 18 points and 20 rebounds.