YAP STRIKES AGAIN AS STREAKING PUREFOODS NAILS HARD-EARNED WIN

Giants’ 6-0 start a new franchise record
Friday, 09 November 2007
ANTIPOLO CITY – James Yap once again delivered the goods for the Purefoods TJ Giants.


The 6-foot-3 Yap buried a jumper with 6.4 seconds left as the Giants extended their amazing winning streak to six by beating the Coca-Cola Tigers, 88-86, Friday night in the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center here.

Winner of the 2005-06 Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy, Yap, who is again contributing MVP-type numbers averaging 23.8 points, scattered 19 points as he again guided Purefoods to a big win.

After the Tigers’ Alex Cabagnot tied the count with a three-pointer, 86-86, Yap took matters into his own hands.

Dribbling at the top of the key and guarded tightly by Chester Tolomia, Yap went to his left then stopped, faking once before pulling up for a jumper that found nothing by net.

“Big game James made a big play and when we needed a big stop, we made a big stop. That’s the story of the game. It’s a welcome game for us. The important thing is we didn’t lose composure,” said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.

“We needed games like this that pushed us to the limit. I thought we had the game all locked up, but Coke fought back,” he added.

The Giants improved to a franchise best 6-0 start since joining the PBA back in 1988. But Gregorio said, “The record 6-0 is nothing without the championship ring.”
Coca-Cola, which trailed by 17 points (86-69) with four minutes left, had a chance to win the game but Cabagnot missed a game-winning triple as time expired.

The Tigers fell into a three-way tie at the bottom of the standings at 1-4 with defending champion Barangay Ginebra and Welcoat.

Forward Kerby Raymundo had a double-double, scoring 20 to go with his 14 rebounds. Big men Mark Pingris and Rommel Adducul combined for 16 points and 21 rebounds.
John Arigo led Coca-Cola with 19 points, but he twisted his right ankle late in the game. (WG)

The scores:

Purefoods 88 – Raymundo 21, Yap J. 19, Simon 11, Pingris 8, Adducul 8, Salvador 7, Yap R. 6, Sanz 3, Lanete 3, Cablay 2, Larong 0, Yee 0.

Coca-Cola 86 – Arigo 19, Cabagnot 15, Buenafe 14, Isip 9, Peek 7, Catli 6, Tolomia 6, Enrile 4, Telan 4, Caceres 2, Calimag 0.

Quarters: 21-17; 38-40; 63-60; 88-86.