By Reuel Vidal

ALASKA started strong, but Sta. Lucia Realty finished stronger to post a hard-earned 81-74 victory in Game 5 of their KFC-Philpppine Basketball Association Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal playoff at the Cuneta Astrodome last night.

The Realtors thus avoided elimination and lived to fight another day, cutting their deficit to only 2-3 to inch within a game of the Aces.

 ”We live for another day,” said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez. “It’s really a nice win. We are just taking it one game at a time. We were really glad to win and we can now look ahead to the Sunday game against the Aces.”

Sta. Lucia’s Joseph Yeo scored a game-high 22 points, while reigning Most Valuable Player Kelly Williams had 14 points.

The Aces held their biggest lead of 16 points, 32-16, late in the first period but the Realtors continued chipping away at the lead. Yeo converted a fastbreak layup and the bonus free throw to push the Realtors ahead for good, 64-62, early in the fourth period.

 ”Happy ako sa mga players ko,” said Fernandez. “Even though Alaska started out strong, my players didn’t give up. They just kept on playing hard no matter how big the Alaska lead.”

The Aces did not just give up easily as Reynel Hugnatan converted two free throws to grab back the lead for the Aces, 71-72, with still 3:54. But Denok Miranda and Yeo himself converted back-to-back triples to virtually seal the outcome of the match, 77-72, with less than two minutes to go in the game.

Fernandez was cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances for the next match.

“We’re happy for the victory but have to be ready for the next game,” said Fernandez. “Sana hindi maging routine ‘yung manalo kami tapos hindi maganda laro namin sa next game. We have to play well against Alaska on Sunday.”