By Joel Orellana, Reporter

STA. LUCIA Realty made a fatal mistake of leaving Jireh Ibañes most of the time as the latter led Welcoat Paints to a shaky 114-104 win Sunday night in the Talk ‘N Text-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ibañes had the game of his life as he torched the Realtors with a career-high 25 points, majority were uncontested, including nine straight field goals as the Dragons barged into the win column after losing to Coca-Cola in their opening game.

“Naging lax ang defense ng kalaban sa kanya (Ibañes). Hindi siya first option sa opensa pero lagi siyang open kapag may double-team sa import namin,’ said Welcoat head coach Leo Austria.

“Pero hindi na ako nagulat sa ipinakita niya dahil kahit sa practice, 100 percent ang ibinibigay niya. Alam kong darating ang time na ito sa kanya,” he added.

The 24-year State University product topped his previous high 12 points in the league and even during his college days and stints in the Philippine Basketball League, he never broke the 20-point mark.

“Ever since kasi defensive stopper ang role ko kahit sa UP at sa Granny Goose. Sa system ni Coach Leo, alam kong mabibigyan ako ng chance. Buti nag-step-up ako at blessed talaga ako ngayon,” Ibañes said.

Charles Clark shrugged off an anemic debut as he anchored the Dragons’ offense with 37 points on 18-of-28 shooting from the field.

Along with Ibañes, they were responsible in giving the team its biggest lead of the game at 25, 84-59, 3:43 mark in the third period.

They kept that big margin in the first seven minutes of the final quarter when Ibañes drilled a three-pointer for a 104-84 lead, 4:55 before Sta. Lucia made a pair of mini-runs to no avail.

A 13-1 blast by the Realtors trimmed the lead to 97-105 and after Clark sliced his free throws, Kenneth Duremdes had the chance to shove the Realtors even more closer but his three-pointer missed the target.

“I’m happy that we won pero hindi ako ganoon kasaya dahil yung 25-point lead namin, bumababa sa walo. Medyo nag-lax din yung depensa namin sa huli,” said Austria.

Denver Lopez chipped in 14 markers for Welcoat which also had a 1-1 start in the last Philippine Cup. Alex Compton added eight points and a conference-high 11 assists.

Rock Winston finished with 32 points while Nelbert Omolon added 21 for the Realtors, who absorbed their second straight loss.

The score:

Welcoat 114 – Clark 37, Ibanes 25, Lopez 14, Reyes 9, Compton 8, Cabatu 8, Gelig 5, Baguion 4, wainwright 4, Lao 0.

Sta. Lucia 104 – Winston 32, Omolon 21, Williams 12, Espino 12, Cabagnot 9, Duremdes 6, Catli 5, Calimag 5, Bughao 2, Isip 0, Aquino 0, Gonzales 0, Mendoza 0.

Quarters: 25-23, 62-53, 90-67, 114-104.