TALK N’ TEXT ACQUIRES WILLIAMS, REYES IN 3-TEAM TRADE

Talk N’ Text added two dazzling talents to its already deep bench by acquiring slam dunking forward Kelly Williams and guard Ryan Reyes from Sta. Lucia Realty in a three-team trade yesterday.

TNT team manager Virgil Villavicencio dropped by at the PBA Office before noon and submitted the necessary papers indicating the trade has been consummated.

In return, the Realtors got veteran center Ali Peek, shooting forward Nic Belasco, sophomore playmaker Paul Escobal and rookie offensive guard Ogie Menor, who was dealt by Barako Energy Coffee to TNT in exchange for the Tropang Texters’ second round pick in the 2010 Rookie Draft.

The Realtors also got 3-point shooting guard Yousif Aljamal from the Coffee Masters in exchange for Fil-Am Charles Waters. Barako Coffee eventually dealt Waters to TNT for forward Mark Isip. 

The tandem of Williams and Reyes has brought Sta. Lucia to great heights during the 2007-08 season when they led the Realtors to their first All-Filipino championship. Their sterling performance earned Williams MVP honors and Reyes the Rookie of the Year plum.

Before being dealt to TNT, Williams and Reyes powered Sta. Lucia to a 91-87 victory over the Alaska Aces Wednesday as the Realtors wound up the first elimination round of the 2010PBA Fiesta Conference with a 4-5 (win-loss) record and crack for a playoff spot.

Their inclusion in the Tropang Texters roster has made the franchise a certified championship contender.

STA LUCIA vs GINEBRA Images

PBA IMAGE 1 - Ryan Reyes looking for Kelly Williams as he cuts thru the defense of Marc Caguioa
PBA IMAGE 2 - Erik Menk in trouble after he was caught from the double defense if Kelly WIlliams and Marlou Aquino.
PBA IMAGE 3 - Ryan Reyes tries to get a hand on the ball from Ronald Tubid.
PBA IMAGE 4 - Avey Storey with the hustle for the ball against Bon-bon Custodio.
PBA IMAGE 5 - Enrico Villanueva was intercepted by Ryan Reyes as he makes his move against Anthony Johnson.

Barako makes triumphant debut

Games Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. – Coca-Cola vs
Barako
7:30 p.m. – San Miguel vs Air21

Barako Energy Coffee, featuring a retooled lineup playing under new coach Junel Baculi, made a triumphant debut in the 2010 PBA Fiesta
Conference, outfighting Sta. Lucia Realty, 97-93, at
the Araneta Coliseum.

Import Sammy Monroe dished out a solid
double-double job and new local recruits Al Vergara, Rob Wainwright and Jerwin Gaco put in significant help as the Energy Coffee Masters went to a
winning start after finishing dead last in the recent Philippine Cup.

“I really believe that with hard work, we can win games. The goal is to
come out of the rut. We don’t want a repeat of our performance in the
last conference,” said Baculi, the team’s new coach taking over from Leo Isaac.

“It’s good to win our first game and it doesn’t stop
there. It’s just the first game. There’s 17 more, so it’s still a long,
long way to go,” Baculi added.

Monroe, an all-playoff teamer and
co-playoff MVP with the Rochester Zeniths in the 2007-08 Premier Basketball League, had an impressive first game in the local pro league, churning out 39 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes of action.

Also a veteran of the Mexican league where he once was a second leading scorer, Monroe personally clinched
the Barako win with a rebound and three free throws in the last 11
seconds.

“I would like to think we’re going to finish on top. I
hate to lose so expect me to play with all my heart every night. I’ll be aggressive and you’ll see a lot of entertainment,” said Monroe.

Vergara, a PBA returnee
after a stint with the Singapore Slingers in the Asean Basketball
League (ABL), was a big help, knocking in back-to-back baskets
that gave the Energy Coffee Masters a six-point spread, 94-88, with 1:25 left to play.

“He’s been there before. He’s a veteran. It’s just a matter of giving him the confidence. He’s aching to prove that he
belongs,” said Baculi of Vergara, who had a brief stint with Purefoods in 2009.

Vergara finished with eight points, the same output delivered by Wainwright –
another PBA returnee from the ABL. Wainwright went 2-of-2 from beyond
the arc and added a two-pointer and three rebounds in 18 minutes of
play.

The entire team was 37-of-69 percent from the field – the
biggest for the franchise in the last six conferences.

The Energy Foods and Drinks ball club went on a decline in the last three years,
finishing 10th and last in the league’s last three tourneys.

Monroe poured in 17 points in the third quarter, fuelling a hot charge that
opened double-digit leads for Barako.

Anthony Johnson and Kelly Williams spearheaded a fourth-quarter Sta. Lucia chase but the Realtors failed to sustain the effort, losing steam at the finish.

The Realtors,
who trailed by 12 points four times, pulled even at 88-all entering the
last two minutes of the game.

Monroe himself put Barako back on
top on two free throws off Bitoy Omolon, then Vergara had his crucial
back-to-back hits, giving the Coffee Masters the 94-88 margin.

Going down the drain was Johnson’s own double-double game (41 points and 13
rebounds).

The scores:

Barako Coffee 97 - Monroe 39,
Najorda 12, Vergara 8, Reyes 8, Wainwright 8, Menor 5, Dimaunahan 5,
Duncil4, Aljamal 4, Gaco 2, Faundo 2, Alonzo 0.

Sta. Lucia 93 -
Johnson 41, Espinas 14, Reyes 13, Custodio 8, Williams 6, Mendoza 4,
Misolas 3, Omolon 2, Aquino 2, Waters 0, Urbiztondo 0, Belano 0.

Quarterscores: 25-23, 44-46, 78-68, 97-93

STA LUCIA vs COKE Images

Williams leads MVP derby

Sta. Lucia Realty do-it-all forward Kelly Williams may already be out for the rest of the season but he has piled up much statistical points making him among the top contenders for the season's Most Valuable Player award.

Though down with a blood disorder, Williams is in the running for the coveted individual award, giving him a chance at becoming only the fourth PBA player ever to win the MVP honors in two successive seasons.

Should he get it, Williams would join Bogs Adornado (1975-76), Alvin Patrimonio (1993-94) and Danny Ildefonso (2000-01) in an elite cast.

The energetic 6-foot-4 Fil-Am still leads all players in the statistical points race although he's been out since the resumption of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference after the All-Star Week where he suffered his health problem.

Through the Fiesta Conference wildcard round, Williams has a league-leading average of 32.2 SPs with Asi Taulava (32.1) closely behind, followed by Arwind Santos (30.6), Jayjay Helterbrand (29.5) and Mark Cardona (29.4).

Making up the next five are Kerby Raymundo (28.67), Philippine Cup Best Player Willie Miller (28.66), Jay Washington (28.6), Dondon Hontiveros (28.4) and Jimmy Alapag (28.2).

Taulava, Cardona, Miller and Alapag have no more chance to improve their stats as their teams have taken the exit in the season.

Rain or Shine teammates Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado are running one-and-two in the race for the Rookie of the Year award.

Norwood is on top with 26 SPs a game, followed by Mercado (23.6) then Jared Dillinger (21.9), Bonbon Custodio (20.2), Larry Rodriguez (16.8), Jeff Chan (15.8), Beau Belga (14.0), Tyrone Tang (13.5), Rob Reyes (11.0) and Kelvin Gregorio (10.4).

Among the rookies, Norwood, Solomon and Dillinger are those in the top 30 overall, making them contenders for the Mythical First and Second Teams.

Jason Castro is not eligible for the Rookie of the Year award since he has played pro ball with the Singapore Slingers. The former PCU Dolphin is at No. 23 in the stats race, ahead of Talk n Text teammate Dillinger at No. 28.

The league honors the season's top achievers during the Leo Awards set before Game Four of the coming Fiesta Conference finals.