STA. LUCIA's Zandro Limpot (72) drives to the basket as Jack Tanuan (14) of Pop Cola gets ready to defend during their PBA All-Filipino Conference game last night at the Astrodome. Sta. Lucia won, 80-73. (Bob DUNGO Jr.)

In a game between two ballclubs which have yet to get into the groove, Sta. Lucia Realty beat Pop Cola, 80-73, last night in the PBA All-Filipino Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

It was, however, a win that failed to pass the grade set by the Realtors' new coach Chot Reyes.

"Yes, it was a win. But it was an ugly win," said Reyes after his wards had to huff and puff before putting out the undermanned and injury- plagued Bottlers. "I'm not satisfied."

Jun Limpot's game-high 28 markers highlighted the Sta. Lucia offensive - the one factor which failed to impress Reyes considering the fact that the team boasts of a host of talented cagers in Dennis Espino, Gerald Esplana, Elmer Cabahug and rookie Jason Webb.

Coming off recent injuries and yet to be fully recovered, Vergel Meneses, Bonel Balingit and Zaldy Realubit suited up for the Bottlers but struggled in coming up with their usual numbers. Ato Agustin was absent due to tonsilitis.

Still, the Realtors failed to score a rout which, judging from the reactions of Reyes, gave hints of their vulnerability in future tough assignments.

"We played hard but we did not play well," added Reyes.

"It's a good thing our defense held and I think, and hope, that it can carry us in our next games."

Webb, which showed promise in the tuneup matches along with fellow greenhorns Angelo David and Gabby Cui, started out flat with two quick fouls and four missed free throws.

Cui wound up with four points, David two and Webb zilch but helped in shackling Pop Cola while Limpot scattered 17 points to push Sta. Lucia on top, 43-34, at the turn.

Cabahug, who was acquired from Mobiline just prior to the start of the 1997 season, had only two points in the first half but sprung back to life in the fourth canto to join Limpot in stretching the lead to 14 points, 76-62, only 2:42 minutes left.

Pop Cola, which managed to outscore Sta. Lucia in the first 12 minutes, 17-14, but lost steam as the game progressed, was paced by Kenneth Duremdes with 21 while the combined outputs of Meneses, Balingit and Emmanuel Victoria only totalled 31.

Nicholas Belasco, the other celebrated Fil-Am rookie after Mobiline's Andy Seigle, had seven points, the same number of rebounds and two assists in his 42-minute debut for the Bottlers.

But to underscore the sub-par physical conditioning of Pop Cola, which is bidding to stage a might comeback from a mediocre campaign last year, Belasco was the one who spent most minutes on the floor followed only by Victoria and Duremdes who each logged 39 minutes.

The loss was the Bottlers' fifth in six encounters with the Realtors since the 1996 season. -EDGARD A. HILARIO

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