Sta. Lucia Realty's Negrense coach Boyet Fernandez is just two wins away from becoming a champion in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Fernandez's Realtors once again put up a solid defensive umbrella on the Purefoods Giants to secure a 112-101 win and go 2-0 up in their their best-of-seven Finals series for the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Fernandez has been trumpeting that defense will prove to be the key in the series and for the second straight game, this proved true.

Interestingly, it was the extra defensive coverage on his fellow Negrense, James Yap, that proved to be the difference. Yap , Purefoods' main gunner, scattered 26 points in the first three quarters before being silenced by Ryan Reyes in the fourth period, where he managed only two points.

Despite going 2-0 up, Fernandez believes his team still has a long way to go.

“The 2-0 lead is nothing if you're playing a best-of-seven series,” the 37-year-old Fernandez of Valladolid town, Negros Occidental said.

“We're just taking it one game at a time. Our focus now is Game 3, which if we play this kind of defense we have a strong chance to win again.”

“(Purefoods) Coach Ryan (Gregorio) is a really very good coach, and he has a very good coaching staff. I expect them to make the adjustment in Game 3, so we'll make several adjustments too,” Fernandez added.

History, however, is on Fernandez's side.

In 65 best-of-seven series since the PBA adopted a seven-game showdown in 1982 (Reinforced Conference Finals), 24 of the 29 teams which took a 2-0 lead went on to win the series, a success rate of 65 percent.

Sta. Lucia's sophomore forward Kelly Williams, who had four points in the first half, had 19 in the second half to finish with 23 with 11 rebounds for his 18th double-double this season-opening conference.

Williams completed a three-point play of a foul by Jondan Salvador at the start of the fourth period that ignited a 12-2 run and game Sta. Lucia a 10-point advantage, 93-83, with 7:15 to play.

Purefoods answered with six straight points to cut the deficit to four, 89-93, with 6:01 to go, but Denok Miranda nailed a jumper from top of the key and Joseph Yeo buried a triple for a 98-89 lead, 4:50 remaining.

Two free throws by Miranda made a pair of foul shots that gave the Realtors a 12-point lead at 12, 106-94, with 1:04 left.

The Realtors, who won their first and only so far league title during the 2001 Governor's Cup, also got solid contributions from Nelbert Omolon (19 points), Yeo (16 points, seven rebounds), Dennis Espino (15, nine boards) and Miranda (14).*CPT

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