The Sta. Lucia Realtors, who joined the league in 1993, moves closer to their first-ever All-Filipino finals appearance wit a tough 95-90 win over the Alaska Aces in game 5 of their best-of-seven semifinals series yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Veterans Paolo Mendoza (team-high 19 points including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc), Marlou Aquino ( 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting frm the floor), and Dennis Espino (16 points, 9 rebounds) provided a big lift to give Sta. Lucia a 3-2 series lead.

"We're just one game up. Coach Tim is a great coach. I'm sure his players will come out highly motivated in Game 6. But as long as our players run our defense to the letter we've a chance," said the novice Sta. Lucia coach during the post-game news conference.

"The players deserve all the credit. They fought hard and never gave when Alaska threatened to turn the game around," Fernandez added.

Kelly Williams failed to register a double-double for the first time in his last 9 games but came up with clutch freethrows in the endgame to give the Realtors breathing space.

Sta. Lucia went ahead 64-47 in the third anchored on Mendoza's three straight 3-point baskets but the Aces regrouped and regained the lead 66-64 7 minutes remaining.

But the ensuing possession saw Mendoza hetting a flagrant foul on Mike Cortez and Jeffrey Cariaso hetting thrown out after pushing Mendoza.

"That really hurt us. Jeffrey should not have done that. He's our leader on the floor and what he did really cost us,” Alaska head coach Tim Cone said.

Willie Miller of Alaska led all scorers with 23 points, including the 5000th of his career, and becoes the 57th player in the league's history to achieve the feat.

Scores:

Sta. Lucia 95 – Mendoza 19, Aquino 18, Espino 16, Yeo 14, Williams 13, Miranda 7, Omolon 6, Reyes 2, Coronel 0, Daa 0, Gonzales 0.

Alaska 90 – Miller 23, Aban 14, Cortez 14, Ferriols 13, Dela Cruz 13, Cariaso 5, Bono 4, Bajar 3, Quiñahan 2, Thoss 2, Hugnatan 0.

Quarterscores: 21-20; 48-37; 76-69; 95-90

The Alaska Aces outscored the Sta. Lucia Realtors 25-6 in the opening quarter and held off numerous rallies to even the best-of-7 semifinal series at 2-all with a 93-80 game four win.

Willie Miller finished with 27 points 5 rebounds and 4 assists, with four three-pointers, including back-to-back-threes in the fourth to douse a Realtor rally, extending a 2-point to eight.

Reynel Hugnatan, back after missing game three, had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, Sonny Thoss also finished with a double-double with 12 and 10.

“We could have taken a step back after losing two tough games (earlier in the series) but we did not,” said Cone. “We came out breathing fire, played some defense and kept battling and challenging them and gave ourselves a chance.”

“We know how good they are, how tough they are and they’re showing great character in that team. It’s tough to compete with that hunger and that’s something we have to do,” he added.

Kelly Williams led the Realtors with 23 points and 13 rebounds.

Scores:

Alaska 93 - Miller 27, Hugnatan 18, Cortez 14, Thoss 12, Cariaso 11, Ferriols 9, dela Cruz 2, Quiñahan 0, Aban 0, Laure 0, Bajar 0.

Sta. Lucia 80 - Williams 23, Aquino 13, Yeo 12, Espino 7, Reyes 6, Omolon 6, Mendoza 6, Miranda 5, Gonzales 2, Mamaclay 0, Daa 0, Butel 0.

Quarterscores: 25-6, 44-35, 62-55, 93-80.

Cyrus Baguio scored a tough game-tying layup in the closing seconds that forced overtime, then Red Bull went on to score the first eight points of overtime, on the way to a 97-88 win in game 4 of their best-of-seven semifinal series, tying it at two games apiece.

Baguio finished with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, leading a balanced attack that saw 8 players from Red Bull scoring at least seven.

"I thought one of the teams was about to break up at that point. So I kept telling the players to just hold on until something happens. Fortunately, it was the other team that broke up," said Red Bull head coach Yeng Guiao afterwards.

James Yap, who scored 10 points in the first quarter, sat out the last three quarters after sustaining a left knee contusion, His status is listed as day-to-day.

“Hindi na namin ni-risk na ipasok siya uli. We’ll see how serious it is or not tomorrow. But we’re all hoping and praying he’ll be okay,” said Purefoods representative to the Board Rene Pardo.

"I kept telling you guys, if we can keep the series longer, the better for us. Kerby Raymundo and James Yap are just playing to hard and too long. I'm certain the pressure will soon take its toll on them,” said Guiao, who has won five titles in his 15-year coaching stint in the league but is still aspiring for his first all-Filipino crown.

Game 5 will be wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum, the first time the series goes to the Big Dome after platying the first four at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Scores:

Red Bull 97 -- Baguio 20, Adriano 16, Cruz 13, Valenzuela 12, Sharma 9, Pennisi 9, Robinson 9, Hrabak 7, Bugia 2, Duncil 0, Ybañez 0.

Purefoods 88 -- Pingris 14, Raymundo 14, Lañete 13, Salvador 10, J. Yap 10, Simon 10, R. Yap 7, Larong 4, Yee 4, Adducul 2, Castillo 0.

Quarterscores: 28-31; 45-41; 66-66; 86-86; 97-88

The Purefoods TJ Giants outhustled the Red Bull Barakos under the boards 55-37 and James Yap and Kerby Raymundo combined for 56 points in winning game three of their best-of-seven semifinals series, 99-90, taking a 2-1 lead.

Marc Pingris finished with a career-high 19 boards to highlight Purefoods' dominance of the boards. James Yap finished with 29, including 3 three-pointers and Raymundo adde 27 as the top three guys of Purefoods played superb.

"That's (rebounding) something we did consciously because their small men always lead out for the fastbreak. That enabled us to crash the boards and we drew tremendous power from it," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.

"Playing Red Bull is always tough. You don't know what to expect and you can't celebrate a victory for long. You relax a bit and it could prove costly," said Gregorio.

"When you play Red Bull, people tend to think they don't have the talent. But they have Cyrus Baguiowho's the best slasher in the league, Junthy Valenzuela who's an underrated No. 3 man and two bigmen (Mick Pennisi and Mike Hrabak) who can shoot the trey. Then there's coach Yeng Guiao. The reality is they're strong," Gregorio added.

Junthy Valenzuela led Red Bull with 26 markers on 9-of-12 shooting but had little help as Cyrus Baguio, who scored 14, struggled all night and fouled-out early in the fourth.

Scores:

Purefoods 99 – Yap 29, Raymundo 27, Pingris 13, Lañete 10, Simon 7, Salvador 4, Adducul 4, Castillo 3, Yap R. 2, Larong 0, Yee 0.

Red Bull 90 – Valenzuela 26, Baguio 14, Pennisi 12, Adriano 10, Cruz 7, Sharma 6, Duncil 5, Hrabak 4, Bugia 3, Ybañez 3.

Quarterscores: 28-24, 51-43, 77-68, 99-90.