INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Nelbert Omolon scored four of his 12 points in overtime Wednesday night as Sta. Lucia Realty outlasted depleted Rain or Shine, 95-90, for its second straight win in the eliminations of the KFC Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Omolon fouled out with under one minute left with the Realtors, who survived lethargic shooting from beyond the arc, already well on the way to catching idle Alaska and Barangay Ginebra and Talk ?N Text at the top at 2-0.

The Elasto Painters absorbed a second consecutive loss after giving the Realtors a hell of a fight even without starting guard Solomon Mercado, who was hospitalized yesterday because of food poisoning.

Talk ?N Text dealt Smart Gilas a second straight loss earlier, 103-70, as the national team aspirants, already without team leader Chris Tiu, couldn?t get anything from their American reinforcement CJ Giles.

Giles played only five minutes and couldn?t put his mind into the game after learning just a few minutes before tip-off from his mother in the United States that his 4-year-old son was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart disease.

?I bow my head to Rain or Shine,? said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez, who got 28 points from the returning Kelly Williams and double digits from three others.

Mac Cardona, the Finals MVP here last year, scattered 16 points and Jimmy Alapag added 14 for the Tropang Texters, who inflicted a second straight loss on the RP five bets.

In a major development, Barangay Ginebra gunslinger Mark Caguioa, who is just two games into his comeback, was taken to a hospital yesterday afternoon because of swelling in his right knee.

This could be a major blow to the Gin Kings, who have already beaten heavyweight sister teams San Miguel and Purefoods while getting 12 points a game from Caguioa.

It is not sure how long Caguioa will be out, or whether the swelling is a recurrence of injuries to both knees he sustained in the 2007-08 season which kept him out for all of last year.

The scores:

First Game

TALK ?N TEXT 103?Cardona 16, Alapag 14, Dillinger 12, Castro 12, Peek 10, De Ocampo R. 9, De Ocampo Y. 8, Belasco 7, Escobal 5, Isip 4, Carey 4, Ritualo 2.

SMART GILAS 70?Barroca 16, Casio 14, Aguilar 14, Barracael 8, Cawaling 7, Ramos 5, Ababou 3, Jazul 2, Ballesteros 1, Giles 0.

Quarters: 19-17, 46-36, 76-54, 103-70.

Second Game

STA. LUCIA 95?Williams 28, Espinas 13, Daa 12, Omolon 12, Yeo 11, Reyes 8, Aquino 4, Jaime 2, Larong 2, Misolas 2, Urbiztondo 1, Pacana 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 90?Araña 19, Norwood 18, Cruz 14, Laure 11, Arellano 8, Chan 6, Reyes 6, Tang 2, Ibañes 2, Telan 2, Alfad 1, Dulay 1.

Quarters: 20-18, 41-38, 62-57, 84-84 (reg), 95-90