PBA Quarterfinals: Champ Sta. Lucia crushes upstart Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines - The league should serve notice. The defending champions are ready to go back-to-back. Nelbert Omolon scored 30 points and Joseph Yeo came off the bench to add 26 and Sta. Lucia played near-flawless basketball from start to finish to beat Rain or Shine, 101-84, and take Game One of the quarterfinals in the KFC Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. In a game billed to go down the wire, it was never close. Well-rested Sta. Lucia, which hasn't played since December 21, was razor sharp on both ends of the floor. The Realtors shot 35-of-79 from the field (44 percent) to the Elasto Painters' 27-of-81 (33 percent). Omolon and Yeo were a combined 14-of-14 from the foul line. For Rain or Shine, it was a forgettable postseason debut. The Elasto Painters couldn't keep up with the Realtors and that unraveled when star Gabe Norwood was ejected for an unsportsmanlike play in the third quarter. For being banished, Norwood, Rain or Shine's most potent offensive weapon, will have to sit out Game Two. And that spells impending doom for the Elasto Painters' Cinderella season. "We really tried to limit and contain (Sol) Mercado and Norwood in the first half," Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez said. "Joseph did a good job even with Kelly (Williams) not playing well," Fernandez added. At the end of three, Sta. Lucia's lead had ballooned to 85-62. Going into the fourth, the final score was the only issue left unsettled. The Realtors can close the series in Game Two set on Friday. Jayr Reyes led Rain or Shine with 16 points and 12 rebounds to pick up the slack for the Elasto Painters' virtually absent rookie phenoms. Mercado shot an atrocious two-of-10 from the field for 13 points. Norwood finished with nine points and seven rebounds. He was ejected from the court after he threw the ball at Omolon in a driving play. Sta. Lucia center Marlou Aquino was also thrown out after he was called for a flagrant foul-2 in the first half. - GMANews.TV