# 2008–09 Sta. Lucia Realtors season

The 2008–09 Sta. Lucia Realtors season was the 16th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The team wasn't able to defend their Philippine Cup trophy after losing to Alaska Aces in six games.

## Key dates

August 31: The 2008 PBA Draft took place at Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Height | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 10 | Kelvin Gregorio | 6'3" | Forward | Philippines | UE |
| 2 | 14 | Chito Jaime | 6'4" | Power Forward | Philippines | AMA |
| 2 | 19 | Christian Cabatu | | | Philippines | Benilde |

## Records
### Philippine Cup
#### Team standings

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| 1 | Alaska Aces | 12 | 6 | .667 | — | Advance to semifinals |
| 2 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 11 | 7 | .611 | 1 | Advance to semifinals |
| 3 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 10 | 8 | .556 | 2 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 4 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 10 | 8 | .556 | 2 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 10 | 8 | .556 | 2 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 6 | San Miguel Beermen | 9 | 9 | .500 | 3 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 7 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 8 | 10 | .444 | 4 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 8 | Air21 Express | 8 | 10 | .444 | 4 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 9 | Coca-Cola Tigers | 7 | 11 | .389 | 5 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 10 | Red Bull Barako | 5 | 13 | .278 | 7 | |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Barangay Ginebra +16, Rain or Shine −3, Sta. Lucia −13
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Purefoods 2–0 Air21

#### Schedule

| | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 |
| Team ╲ Game | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Air21 Express | ROS | TNT | BGK | Coke | SLR | ALA | PF | SMB | ROS | Coke | RBB | SMB | PF | BGK | SLR | RBB | ALA | TNT |
| Alaska Aces | SMB | Coke | RBB | ROS | TNT | A21 | BGK | SLR | PF | SMB | ROS | TNT | SLR | Coke | RBB | BGK | A21 | PF |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | SLR | A21 | RBB | SMB | PF | ALA | ROS | Coke | TNT | PF | SLR | Coke | RBB | A21 | ALA | TNT | SMB | ROS |
| Coca-Cola Tigers | TNT | ALA | PF | A21 | SLR | ROS | RBB | BGK | SMB | A21 | PF | ROS | BGK | ALA | TNT | SMB | SLR | RBB |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | RBB | SMB | Coke | SLR | ROS | BGK | A21 | TNT | ALA | RBB | BGK | Coke | SMB | A21 | ROS | SLR | TNT | ALA |
| Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | A21 | RBB | SMB | ALA | PF | Coke | TNT | BGK | A21 | SLR | ALA | Coke | RBB | SLR | PF | TNT | SMB | BGK |
| Red Bull Barako | PF | ROS | ALA | BGK | SMB | TNT | Coke | SLR | PF | TNT | A21 | ROS | BGK | SMB | ALA | A21 | Coke | SLR |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | BGK | TNT | PF | Coke | A21 | SMB | ALA | RBB | ROS | SMB | BGK | TNT | ALA | ROS | A21 | PF | Coke | RBB |
| San Miguel Beermen | ALA | PF | ROS | TNT | BGK | RBB | SLR | A21 | Coke | ALA | SLR | PF | A21 | TNT | RBB | Coke | ROS | BGK |
| Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | Coke | A21 | SLR | SMB | ALA | RBB | ROS | PF | BGK | RBB | ALA | SLR | SMB | Coke | ROS | PF | BGK | A21 |

#### Bracket

| Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Quarterfinals (best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (best-of-3) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) |
| 6 | San Miguel | 99 | | | | | | | 6 | San Miguel | 2 | |
| 9 | Coca-Cola | 89 | | | | 3 | Ginebra | 1 | 2 | Talk 'N Text | 4 | |
| | | | 6 | San Miguel | 105 | 6 | San Miguel | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Air21 | 86 | | | | | | | 1 | Alaska | 3 |
| 7 | Purefoods | 82 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Talk 'N Text | 4 |
| 8 | Air21 | 94 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 1 | Alaska | 4 | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | | | | 4 | Rain or Shine | 0 | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 2 | | 6 | San Miguel | 97 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Sta. Lucia (OT) | 99 |
* view
* talk

#### Quarterfinals: (4) Rain or Shine vs (5) Sta. Lucia

* C/S9
* January 7
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* January 9
Sta. Lucia Realtors 92, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 85 :
* Sta. Lucia wins series, 2–0 ||
* Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay
In their first playoff appearance since joining the league in 2006, the Elasto Painters were overwhelmed in Game 1 by the defending champions, who played with the comebacking Ryan Reyes who just came from injury. Fracas involving Rain or Shine's Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado at the end of the first game caused Norwood to be suspended in Game 2, and Mercado on Game 3 if it happens. The short-handed Elasto Painters wound up short in Game 2 as they were eliminated.

#### Semifinals: (1) Alaska vs (5) Sta. Lucia

* C/S9
* January 14
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* January 16
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* January 18
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* January 21
* Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay
* C/S9
* January 23
* Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay
* C/S9
* January 25
Sta. Lucia Realtors 83, Alaska Aces 87 :
* Alaska wins series, 4–2 ||
* Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay
In a rematch of the 2007-08 semifinals series, the Aces won two consecutive game to lead the series 2–0. However, the Realtors won Game 3 to cut the series lead. But Alaska, seeking to prevent what happened last year, won Game 4 to take a commanding 3–1 series lead. Sta. Lucia won Game 5 but they came out short in Game 6 with Willie Miller having an all-around performance to lead the Aces to a rematch of the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals against Talk 'N Text.

### Fiesta Conference
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| 1 | San Miguel Beermen | 11 | 3 | .786 | — | Advance to semifinals |
| 2 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3 | Advance to semifinals |
| 3 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3 | Twice-to-beat in the wildcard round |
| 4 | Burger King Whoppers | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3 | Twice-to-beat in the wildcard round |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 6 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 7 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 8 | Coca-Cola Tigers | 6 | 8 | .429 | 5 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 9 | Alaska Aces | 6 | 8 | .429 | 5 | Twice-to-win in the wildcard round |
| 10 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters | 2 | 12 | .143 | 9 | Twice-to-win in the wildcard round |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Rain or Shine +15, Barangay Ginebra −7, Burger King −8; second seed playoff: Barangay Ginebra 114–71 Rain or Shine
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Sta. Lucia +7, Purefoods +3, Talk 'N Text −10
* 1 2 Eighth seed playoff: Coca-Cola 81–74 Alaska

#### Results

* Results above and to the left of the gray boxes are first round games; those below and to the right are second round games.
| Team | ALA | BBE | BGK | BKW | COKE | PF | ROS | SMB | SLR | TNT |
| Alaska Aces | | 90–92 | 82–81 | 88–106 | 85–89 | 94–84 | 94–96 | 89–93 | 90–100 | 122–124 |
| Barako Bull Energy Boosters | 90–100 | | 103–111 | 110–123 | 103–106 | 92–96 | 83–93 | 92–99 | 91–100 | 135–132 |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | 75–76 | | | 106–110 | 110–103 | 107–105 | 93–107 | 80–95 | 76–80 | 97–90 |
| Burger King Whoppers | | 99–89 | 94–100 | | 127–109 | 78–82 | 112–118 | 105–114 | 96–84 | 105–118 |
| Coca-Cola Tigers | | 120–106 | 85–122 | | | 89–80 | 94–91* | 91–106 | 88–79 | 111–133 |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 74–80 | | | 86–96 | 92–85 | | 102–94* | 103–122 | 93–91 | 131–121 |
| Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | | 103–97 | 89–94 | | | 110–90 | | 95–102 | 100–109 | 96–102 |
| San Miguel Beermen | 91–84 | | | 105–107* | 89–105 | | 72–82 | | 92–90 | 98–87 |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | | 98–88 | 98–101 | | | 104–95 | 90–82 | 92–98 | | 106–100 |
| Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 115–122* | | | 129–135** | 103–00 | | 116–118* | | 97–91 | |

#### Bracket

| Wildcard phase | Wildcard phase | Wildcard phase | Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Semifinals (Best-of-7) | Semifinals (Best-of-7) | Semifinals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) |
| (#4 twice to beat) | (#4 twice to beat) | (#4 twice to beat) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Burger King | 96 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Burger King | 96 | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 | | | |
| 9 | Alaska | 90 | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 | | | |
| 9 | Alaska | 90 | 4 | Burger King | 2 | 4 | Burger King | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 4 | Burger King | 2 | 4 | Burger King | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia | 94 | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia | 94 | | | | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 |
| 8 | Coca-Cola | 88 | | | | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 |
| 8 | Coca-Cola | 88 | | | | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 3 |
| (#3 twice to beat) | (#3 twice to beat) | (#3 twice to beat) | | | | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 3 |
| 3 | Rain or Shine | 96 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Rain or Shine | 96 | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 4 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| 10 | Barako Bull | 88 | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 4 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| 10 | Barako Bull | 88 | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 6 | Purefoods | 1 | | | | 4 | Burger King | 132 |
| 6 | Purefoods (2OT) | 126 | 6 | Purefoods | 1 | | | | 4 | Burger King | 132 |
| 6 | Purefoods (2OT) | 126 | | | | | | | 3 | Rain or Shine | 118 |
| 7 | Talk 'N Text | 123 | | | | | | | 3 | Rain or Shine | 118 |
* view
* talk

#### Wildcard phase

* C/S9
* May 29
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

#### Quarterfinals: (4) Burger King vs. (5) Sta. Lucia

* C/S9
* May 31
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* June 3
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* June 14
Burger King Whoppers 120, Sta. Lucia Realtors 72 :
* Burger King wins series 2–1 ||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

## Transactions
### Subtractions

| Player | Date | Reason |
| Philip Butel | 2009 Fiesta | Waived |

### Imports recruited

| Player | Debuted | Final |
| Anthony Johnson | February 28 | June 14 |