INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- Boyet Fernandez didn’t need a controversial endgame timeout on this one.

In fact, Sta. Lucia Realty was so in synch Sunday night that Fernandez didn’t have the need to call time for most of the fourth quarter in a 123-106 victory over Air21 that boosted the Realtors into the semifinals of the Smart PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Realtors broke away late in the third quarter and sealed their defiance of pre-tournament hype -- and expectations -- by winning an eighth straight game for a 12-6 slate and a seat in the Final Four in the company of Purefoods.

“They didn’t give up, though Air21 started out strong,” said a jubilant Fernandez, who was criticized so much by the press and some of his peers for calling a timeout in the waning seconds of a won ballgame against also-ran Welcoat last week.

Well, Fernandez put this one in the bag early, especially after the Realtors seized control late in the second quarter and took the fight out of the Express.

“I give credit to my boys,” he said. “They deserve to be where they are now.”

Lanky off-guard Nelbert Omolon hit 25 points in the first half and finished with a career-high 40, the first local to do so since Mark Caguioa of Barangay Ginebra scored 45, also against Air21, almost 18 months ago.

Norman Gonzales came off the bench to hit 17, 11 of them coming in the breakaway third period as Sta. Lucia drew double figures from six players in finishing off the game Express, who wound up as the eighth-ranked team.

“Our initial target was just to make the top five (and the quarterfinals outright),” Fernandez said. “When we got the chance to make the top two, I told my players that this would be icing on the cake.”

For a while, it looked like the Express were ready to pull the rug from under the Realtors.

Arwind Santos carried the fight for the Express, shooting 11 of his 22 points in the first period and getting a lot of offensive help from the usually silent Homer Se, who finished with a career-high 22 points.

But things fell into place for the Realtors in the second quarter and they looked unbeatable from thereon, hitting shots from inside and out to punctuate an overpowering second half of their elimination-round stint.

Kelly Williams, last season’s top rookie, scored 16 points like Dennis Espino, including some show-stopping jams that highlighted a prolific night for Sta. Lucia.

Talk ‘N Text stayed in the running for an outright quarterfinal berth after a 104-87 decision of sputtering defending champion Barangay Ginebra in the nightcap.

In climbing to 9-8, the Phone Pals can tie idle Magnolia with a win over Coca-Cola on Wednesday and necessitate a playoff for the No. 5 spot, with the loser joining the Gin Kings, Air21 and the Tigers (6-11). Ginebra closed out with an 8-10 card.

Sta. Lucia’s victory also rendered the Purefoods versus Red Bull game on Wednesday moot, with Alaska assured of the No. 3 spot even if it ends up tied with the Barako at 11-7.

Coca-Cola will also be the No. 9 seed whatever happens in its game against the Talk N Text, also Wednesday, at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The scores:

First Game

STA. LUCIA 123 -- Omolon 40, Gonzales 17, Williams 16, Espino 16, Mendoza 12, Aquino 10, Miranda 8, Reyes 4, Coronel 0, Daa 0, Yeo 0.

AIR21 106 -- Santos 24, Se 22, Canaleta 12, Cruz 10, David 10, Chia 7, Kramer 6, Intal 6, De Ocampo 4, Sotto 3, Arboleda 2.

Quarters: 32-35, 65-59, 96-86, 123-106

Second Game

TALK ‘N TEXT 104 -- Ritualo 23, Cardona 20, Washington 16, Aljamal 11, De Ocampo 11, Peek 7, Alapag 5, Allado 5, Belano 4, Carey 2, Barcellano 0, Billones 0.

BARANGAY GINEBRA 87 -- Caguioa 22, Helterbrand 21, Tubid 9, Mamaril 6, Menk 6, Reavis 6, Macapagal 5, Salvacion 5, Artadi 4, Aquino 3, Escalona 0.

Quarters: 26-16, 52-34, 83-62, 104-87