Johnson, Realtors turn back Texters

MANILA, Philippines - Anthony Johnson outplayed Tiras Wade and Sta. Lucia Realty outlasted Talk n Text, 106-100, in a slambang duel to break into the win column in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Ynares Center in Pasig last night.

Johnson scattered 31 points, including clutch baskets giving the Realtors a decisive lead which they used as cushion to defuse a late charge by the Tropang Texters.

The Realtors bounced back from a loss to the Burger King Titans in the tournament opener in Dumaguete Saturday while the Texters reeled to a second straight defeat following a blowout by the Purefoods Giants Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Kelly Williams, Joseph Yeo, Marlou Aquino, Paolo Mendoza and Norman Gonzales put in significant numbers as the Realtors topped the recently crowned Philippine Cup champions, bucking the absence of injured key players Dennis Espino and Ryan Reyes.

The Realtors took a decisive 102-97 lead with time down to 27 seconds on six straight baskets by Johnson.

But the Texters had a chance to force an overtime at 100-103 after Renren Ritualo rifled in a trey then Yeo split two foul shots, but Ranidel de Ocampo misfired a game-tying three-point attempt.

Johnson earlier starred in a run that had the Realtors erecting a 16-point margin at 88-72.

Jimmy Alapag, Jared Dillinger and Wade took charge for TnT, hitting heavily from afar as the Texters rallied and stormed ahead at 97-96 with 2:38 left to play.

Mendoza sparked a vicious SLR attack coming off the bench in the second quarter, giving the Realtors a 48-41 spread at halftime.

The two teams engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle before Mendoza knocked in three straight treys right after checking in.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra and Burger King (formerly Air21) clash in an early rematch of their title collision last year, disputing the early solo lead in the tourney in their 7:30 p.m. tiff at the Astrodome.

The Titans clobbered the Sta. Lucia Realty, 96-87, in the tournament opener in Dumaguete Saturday while the Kings topped the Coca-Cola Tigers, 110-103, at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Wednesday.

Barako Bull and Coca-Cola slug it out in the day’s other game, closing the first week of action in the tourney tipped to get more exciting because of the strict “hand-check rule.”

Coaches said the new rule is favorable to offensive players with the defenders forced to defend with their feet and not with their hands.

Ginebra import Rod Nealy said he took advantage of the rule as he erupted for 42 points in powering the Kings past the Tigers.

The question is who’s the player Burger King coach Yeng Guiao can count on to stop Nealy.

Shawn Daniels is likely to be put on Rafi Reavis and Eric Menk as the burly Burger King import could be too slow for the cat-quick Nealy.

The two teams figured in a title playoff to remember in disputing the crown last year. The Kings rode high on the exploits of seven-foot import Chris Alexander in beating the Steven Thomas-led Express in a best-of-seven series that reached the full distance.

JC Intal and Doug Kramer are now on the other side of the fence, having been traded by Burger King for future draft picks.

Intal played behind Sunday Salvacion and Ronald Tubid at small forward position in his first game with the Kings Wednesday.

“Our acquisition of JC Intal and Chico Lanete came in an opportune time. We have a hole in their spots with Mark Caguioa and Junthy Valenzuela still injured,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“Am happy with what we have now. It’s unlike in the first conference where we were one or two men short of a regular rotation,” Uichico added.