James Yap knew exactly what to do for his team to be able to recover in the semifinal series of the 38th PBA Philippine Cup.
The sweet-shooting guard went back to his comfort zone, a gambit that paid off big time, as he led the San Mig Coffee Mixers to a series-tying 102-86 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 2 of their race-to-four series last night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Bucking a banged-up knee, Yap caught fire from the three-point land, shooting seven-for-12 on his way to finishing with a game-high 34 points, leading the Coffee Mixers’ big bounce back win after losing Game 1, 83-91.
“I reviewed the tape after our loss in Game 1 and it seemed I was making things hard for myself,” said Yap after the game. “I just figured out that I have to make more outside shots instead of posting up in the paint,”added Yap, who played just one minute in Game 1 after hurting his knee.
The Painters started good and posted a 27-16 lead late in the first quarter.
As Rain or Shine started to relax, San Mig got going as a 14-3 tear brought them within 32-33.
The Coffee Mixers completed a major turnaround in the third where Yap and Joe De Vance went berserk.
San Mig Coffee got its first taste of the lead for the first time in the 10:19 mark of the third, 45-44, and after Rain or Shine regained the lead, 50-49, Yap hit a three-pointer followed by six straight points from De Vance as the Coffee Mixers suddenly found themselves up, 58-50.
Beau Belga broke Rain or Shine’s silence but San Mig Coffee retaliated with 10 answered points to open up a fat, 67-52 lead. The pivotal run saw the ejection of Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao, who was slapped with his second technical foul in the 4:06 mark for excessive complaining.
Yap closed the third with eight straight points, helping his team take a 75-62 lead with one quarter to play.
Yap had 16 points in the third quarter alone while De Vance piled up 12 in the same period.
The Painters felt the pinch of the woeful outings of Paul Lee and Jeff Chan, who combined for just 17 points after conniving for 33 markers in Game 1.
BOX SCORES
SANMIG COFFEE 106 – Yap 34, Barroca 17, Devance 17, Simon 13, Pingris 9, Gonzales 6, Reavis 4, Ramos 3, De Ocampo 3, Pacana 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 82 – Rodriguez 12, Quinahan 12, Chan 10, Cruz 9, Belga 9, Lee 7, Matias 7, Ibanes 7, Arana 5, Norwood 2, Tang 2, Tiu 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 18-27, 38-40, 75-62, 106-82