Former NBA star Awvee Storey exploded for 33 points, 25 of them in the second half, to power the Barangay Ginebra Kings to a riveting 97-90 win against the Talk N Text Tropang Texters Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum on the opening day of the import-flavored 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference. Storey, who formerly played for the New Jersey Nets, the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks, also grabbed 16 rebounds. Mark Caguioa also starred for the Kings, knocking in 19 points as he spearheaded a 12-0 Ginebra blitzkrieg with 4:50 left in the game. The Texters were led by former Air21 resident import Shawn Daniels who scored 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Ginebra and TNT fought tooth and nail for most parts of the game as they continued their bitter rivalry in the recent Philippine Cup, which was marred by the Texters' infamous walkout in Game 4 of their best-of-5 quarterfinals series. Both teams retooled their lineups. The Kings beefed up their frontline with Yancy de Ocampo and John Ferriols while the Texters gave up Ocampo and Renren Ritualo to get more solid role players in J.R. Quinahan, Mark Yee and Aaron Aban. In the first match of the double-header, import Sammy Monroe detonated a 39-point bomb to help the Barako Coffee Masters upset the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 97-93. Known for his superb leaping ability and upperbody strength, the 25-year-old 6'6” American journeyman was 13-of-24 from the field and also had 12 rebounds. He drilled two crucial free throws in the homestretch to shatter the game's final deadlock. Monroe, who had stint in Mexico prior to signing up with Barako Coffee, put the Coffee Makers on top for good, 90-88. Monroe is best remembered for smashing a backboard in the Premier Basketball League. New recruit Al Vergara then preserved the stunning win by the league's lowest rated team which finished dead last in the last three conferences as he nailed back-to-back jumpers in the final 85 seconds to cool off the rallying Realtors. Sta. Lucia earlier fought back from an 11-point deficit in the final 5:20 to tie the game at 88 with 2:32 left. Leo Najorda, one of the few holdovers of Red Bull, Barako Coffee's predecessor, chipped in with 12 points Vergara, who previously suited up for Purefoods and later, with the Singapore Slingers in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), had eight along with Rob Wainwright and Rob Reyes. Gabby Espinas added 14 points and nine rebounds, while Ryan Reyes contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Realtors. Sta. Lucia figured in a player trade before the opening of the conference with the Realtors swapping explosive guard Joseph Yeo for Bonbon Custodio of San Miguel. Kelly Williams scored only six points on 3-of-8 shooting, but came up with the game's highlight as he made a left-handed follow-up dunk off a missed shot in the final moments of the third period.
