BY NOLI CORTEZ

ALASKA was bent on keeping its Smart PBA Fiesta Conference crown. An almost-forgotten Sta. Lucia Realty player had other plans.

With Joseph Yeo coming off the bench to score a career-high 27 points and Kelly Williams and Lee Benson coming to life when it mattered, the Realtors beat the Aces 99-86 last night to keep alive its hopes at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Yeo, who went into the game averaging just 6.8 points a game, scattered 19 of his points in the second half, sparking Sta. Lucia’s comeback and helping fuel the season-opening Philippine Cup champion’s surge from the last deadlock at 80.

As if taking the cue from their reserve shooting guard, Williams awoke from a five-point, first half stupor to pump in 23 points while Benson figured prominently in some crucial plays that finally insured the Realtors’ win.

The victory, their third straight over Alaska in the conference, gave the Realtors a ticket to the final wildcard pairing tomorrow for the lone remaining quarterfinal slot and a best-of-three meeting with early qualifier Ginebra.

Purefoods and Talk N Text were playing at press time for the right to face the Realtors at 7 p.m. tomorrow, also at the Antipolo venue.

"We believed in ourselves and I’m happy the players stepped up," said coach Boyet Fernandez, adding he was immensely pleased with Yeo’s game.

"I’m happy he played that way," he said of Yeo, who also had five rebounds, as many assists and three steals.

"He comes with intensity off the bench, but not only that. He now knows how to play defense and if he continues playing that way he’ll stay on the floor," Fernandez added.

"We stuck to our bread and butter plays, which are pressure defense and fast breaks and I’m glad those paid off," said Fernandez.

Willie Miller wound up with a team-high 26 points but Alaska still despondently went out as it became the first champion team to bow out of the tournament wildcard phase since San Miguel Beer in 2006.

Randy Holcomb had 18 points and seven rebounds, but committed eight turnovers before fouling out with 46 ticks left. The bulk of his miscues came after his short jumper moved Alaska within 86-88, still 3:05 left.

That was when the Realtors fully came alive, helped along by Alaska’s four misses and two turnovers and a Benson block on Holcomb, spoiling what could have been Ace point guard LA Tenorio’s 24th birthday.