Enter the Welcoat Dragons

Charles Clark redeemed himself from a woeful debut while Jireh Ibanes played the game of his life as Welcoat produced a pair of franchise highs in stunning Sta. Lucia Realty, 114-104, in the Talk n Text PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The burly Clark bulldozed his way to 37 points, Ibanes scored a career-high 25 points and the entire Welcoat team put up its best showing thus far in the pro league, hitting at a franchise-high 56.4-percent field-goal shooting.

The Dragons converted 7 of 19 three-point attempts, 37 of 59 two-point tries and 19 of 29 charities as they also posted their highest output in the pros.

Holding their ground on other fronts of the game, the Dragons surprisingly dominated the Realtors to check into the win-column after bowing to the Coca-Cola Tigers on opening day.

"We’re not yet sure if we’ve already gotten a competitive team. But we’re sure we will work hard each game. This victory is a product of hard work," said Welcoat coach Leo Austria.

"Criticized in his first game, our import showed his true worth tonight. Insofar as Jireh’s performance is concerned, I’m hardly surprised because he always gives his 100 percent every game and even in practice," Austria added.

Willie Miller shook off Ronald Tubid’s defense for a 10-footer in the last 3.3 seconds of play and Alaska Milk nipped Barangay Ginebra, 100-98, to draw level with Coca-Cola and Red Bull atop the heap with two games each.

Clark and Ibanes proved to be the biggest thorns for the Realtors as they remained winless in two games under new coach Boyet Fernandez.

Clark, who struggled for only three points in the first half and totaled just 16 against the Tigers, came back strong, erupting for 37 points that went with seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks.

Ibanes also came to the fore as the former UP Maroon, a defensive player all his life, went to work offensively, going 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, 7-of-8 from the two-point zone and 5-of-9 from the stripe.

More importantly, the 5-foot-1 off-guard scattered 10 of his 25 in the third quarter while the Realtors were mounting a comeback.

"I just followed the system of coach Leo. They (the Realtors) were keeping me open and I just didn’t hesitate to shoot," said Ibanes, 25, who didn’t recall scoring more than 14 points from his UP days to his stint with Granny Goose in the PBL.

Ibanes had gone 9-of-9 from the field before missing a lay-up challenged by Kenneth Duremdes. He thought there was a foul not called by the refs.

Also drawing solid back-up jobs from Denver Lopez, Jay-R Reyes and Junjun Cabatu, the Dragons took control almost throughout, leading by as many as 25 points at 84-59.

The Realtors waged a chase in the final half but could come no close than eight.