The BMEG Derby Ace Llamados settled for a 105-105 tie in their exhibition match against the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños late Wednesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
However, the tie proved costly as superstars, James Yap and Kerby Raymundo went down with injuries, putting the team’s stint in the upcoming PBA Governor’s Cup in peril.
Yap, the league’s two-time MVP, took himself out of the game midway through the second period as a result of an apparent ankle injury.
Raymundo got the worst of the two as he went down in a heap late in the game and had to be carried out of the court by his teammates.
As of press time, it remained to be seen if whether or not the duo would play in the Llamados’ game against the Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters/RDAK late last night.
Raymundo tied the game up at 103 with a three-point play with 1:40 left in the game.
He had a chance to give the Llamados the lead as he drove hard to the basket and drew a foul. But as he was on his way down, the 6-foot-5 forward landed on the foot of a Niños player, injuring his ankle. Don Allado stepped in his stead and hit two freethrows to give the Llamados the advantage with 26.3 seconds left.
Jayford Rodriguez tied the game with the last two of his 10 points in the fourth period, making a gorgeous floater from the left wing with defensive ace Marc Pingris draped all over him.
The two squads had chances to win the game outright but flubbed their possessions. BMEG guard Peter June Simon was called for a travelling violation while Rodriguez was blocked from behind as time expired.
Rodriguez paced the Niños with 20 while Raymundo led the Llamados with 24.