Yap scores 24 as B-Meg repeats over Alaska

JAMES YAP scored eight of his team-high 24 points in the second extension period, leading the B-Meg Llamados to a gripping 92-89 double overtime win over the hard-luck Alaska Aces last night in the 37th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Yap actually struggled from the field but took over when the Llamados needed him most, scoring eight of the team’s 12 second overtime.

It was B-Meg’s third straight win and five overall in eight games.

B-Meg coach Tim Cone also scored his second straight win over his former team as the Llamados duplicated their 81-75 win over the same Aces squad.

Alaska stayed at ninth place with their seventh loss against a single win.

B-Meg played without the prolific PJ Simon, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury. Rookie Mark Barocca gamely filled the void vacated by Simon, scoring a career-high 24 points on a 10-for-14 shooting from the field. Barocca also had three assists.

Kerby Raymundo added 14 points, while Pingris had for the Llamados, who came back from a six-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation to force overtime.

Alaska had several chances of winning but caved in in the closing minutes.

The Aces erected an 80-75 lead in the final 2:26 of the first overtime but failed to score from that point on, allowing the Llamados to force another extension.

Alaska last tasted the lead in the 4:06 of the second extension, 83-82, before Yap went berserk./Editorial ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA