Sta. Lucia Realty and Euro-Med subdued their respective foes Wednesday night at the Marikina Sports Center to advance to the semifinal round of the PCBL Chairman’s Cup.
The Realtors banked on their solid local production and good defensive game plan on ex-pro Bayron Villarias to hammer out an 80-73 win over Biyaheng SCTEX.
Euro-Med got a breakout performance from Mike Parala, who had 15 points and six rebounds and helped his team to a 68-52 whipping of Foton in the other game.
Sta. Lucia and Euro-Med will join early qualifiers Mighty Sports and Jumbo Plastic in the Final Four, which will begin on Sunday at the Malolos Sports and Convention Center.
Behind a balance offensive attack, the Realtors were able to score their second straight win over Biyaheng SCTEX in their best-of-three quarterfinal series of this event supported by Hahn Manila, Spalding, LGR, During’s Barbeque and Restaurant, Ambucore and Leatherman.
Mainstays Jhaps Bautista finished with 21 points while Kent Salado contributed 13, but the Realtors also got huge significant contributions from Paolo Javelona, Jett Vidal and Wowie Escosio to finally put away SCTEX.
Javelona, Vidal and Escosio chipped in eight points apiece.
“Yung mga bata nag-step up, gusto talagang manalo,” said Sta. Lucia coach Ogie Gumatay. “Everybody stepped up, lahat nagkaroon ng playing time, kaya nakuha namin.”