INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?The only thing that seemed sleepy about Sammy Monroe in his big Philippine Basketball Association debut were his eyes.

Monroe introduced himself in an eye-popping way Sunday night, shooting 39 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead Barako Coffee to a 97-93 decision of Sta. Lucia Realty at the start of the Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The Jacksonville, North Carolina native broke the game?s last tie at 88 with two free throws and then sealed the deal with three more charities inside the final 11.3 seconds as the Coffee Masters? campaign got off on the right foot.

?Hopefully it?s all the way to the top, that?s why I am here,? the 25-year-old Monroe said in a television interview when asked how far he could take the perennial doormat Coffee Masters.

It was not only Monroe who shone, though, with free agent pick Al Vergara shining at the crunch by hitting two straight jumpers after Monroe had given Barako Coffee a 90-88 lead which the Coffee Masters increased to 94-88 with 46.1 to go.

?I just told the team that we have to work hard because we want to prove something?and that is we belong in this league,? said newly appointed coach Junel Baculi, who took over a team that finished dead last in the last three conferences.

?I also want to prove something,? he continued. ?When I started coaching 16 years ago, I told myself that someday I?ll be here (in the PBA). I was given an opportunity, and hopefully, we could sustain this.?

The Realtors trailed by as many as 12 points late in the third quarter and early in the fourth before holding the Coffee Masters scoreless for more than three minutes in the latter half of the fourth for that 88-all tie.

Anthony Johnson, who helped Sta. Lucia finish fifth here last year, had 41 points and 13 rebounds, but he was the only one who scored in the final 2:30 for the Realtors.

The win was a great start for Barako Coffee, whose sponsor, Mikee Romero, celebrated his birthday Sunday in a big way. Known as Barako Bull in the Philippine Cup, the Energy Boosters lost 11 straight games in that tournament.

?The players are willing to accept their roles in the (new) system,? Baculi explained. ?But it doesn?t stop there, we just won one game. There?s a long, long way to go.?

Leo Najorda scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half, while Vergara, who even plied his trade in Singapore after finding no takers here two years ago, finished with eight while playing with a lot of spunk in the endgame.

The 5-foot-7 guard missed sealing the game for the Coffee Masters but Monroe took over.

Gabby Espinas chipped in 14 points and Ryan Reyes had 13 for the Realtors.

Bonbon Custodio, sporting a new tattoo, looked comfortable with his new team. Though he scored just eight points, the former University of the East ace had no trouble joining the offensive flow of Sta. Lucia.

Barako Coffee played so well that Monroe was used for only 39 minutes. Baculi made him ride the bench in the first four minutes of the fourth with the Coffee Masters ably protecting a double-digit spread.

The Sta. Lucia rally started at 77-88 with 5:06 left. The Realtors dropped an 11-0 bomb touched off and capped by their import for 88-all with 2:30 left.

The scores:

First Game

BARAKO COFFEE 97?Monroe 39, Najorda 12, Vergara 8, Reyes 8, Wainwright 8, Menor 5, Dimaunahan 5, Duncil 4, 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.

Quarters: 25-23, 44-46, 78-68, 97-93.