SIMON SAYS 42 AS B-MEG DERBY ACE RECORDS FIRST BACK-TO-BACK WINS
Published on November 10, 2010
Peter June Simon, who has worked wonders many times before for his team, played superhero again,
recording a career-high 42 points as Derby Ace exact revenge
against Air 21, 102-97, and claimed its first back-to-back wins in the PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday
night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Only a fifth round, 43rd overall pick in 2001 by Sta. Lucia and didn't get to play in the league
until only three years later for Purefoods, Simon was simply spectacular against the Express,
hitting practically every shot he tossed that it hardly mattered that the Llamados were depleted
with Kerby Raymundo, Mark Pingris and Rafi Reavis still
recovering from injuries.
“PJ has been really playing well this conference. I hope he would continue playing that way,”
said B-Meg Derby Ace head coach Jorge Gallent after the game.
Before Wednesday’s game, Simon's career-best was 32 points he set Dec. 13, 2006 in a 114-73
Purefoods rout of Coca-Cola in the Philippine Cup.
After a slow start where they trailed Air21 by as much as 13 in the first 12 minutes of play, the
Llamados gained momentum in the second quarter by holding the Express to a 7 of 20 shooting from the
field. Derby Ace shot 60 percent (12 of 20) and outscored the Express, 32-19, in the period to take
48-46 lead at halftime.
Simon, who was 11 for 11 from the two-point zone and 2 for 4 from 3-point range, highlighted his
superb performance by anchoring his team’s telling run in the third quarter that drew a wild roar
from their fans.
After Air21 rookie Noy Baclao gave Express a 55-52 lead, Simon made two free throws then scored on
a transition play following a turnover by the Express that led to a 13-0 blast and put the Llamados
ahead to stay, 65-55, with 7:04 left in the third.
James Yap added 16 points despite going 0-of-6 from three-point range and 4-of-16 overall from the
field while Roger Yap added 10 assists and four steals -- both game-highs -- on top of nine points
and six rebounds.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year Rico Maierhofer also came up with game-high numbers in
rebounding (15) and shotblocks (3) while adding nine points as Derby Ace topped the rebound
department for the third straight game while improving to 3-5 (win-loss) record to pull abreast with
idle Meralco and Air21 for seventh to ninth places in the team standings.
Rabeh Al-Hussaini, the No.2 pick in the recent draft, had a conference-high 25 points and Ronjay
Buenafe added 14 for the Express who had a strong start until poor shooting in the next three
quarters stymied their game.
Air21 posted the game’s biggest lead at 27-14 on successive baskets by Buenafe and Wynne Arboleda
late in the first quarter. But they lost their offensive touch in the next period, shooting just 35
percent from the field.
Wesley Gonzales, scored 10 of his 12 points in the first quarter while holding James Yap scoreless
in the period but surprisingly played sparingly in the next three quarters. (DBC)
The scores:
B-Meg Derby Ace 102 - Simon 42, Yap J. 16, Maierhofer 9, Yap R. 9, Salvador 8, Gaco 7, Villanueva
7, Adducul 4, Allado 0.
Air21 97 - Al-Husseini 25, Buenafe 14, Gonzales 12, Arboleda 12, Baclao 11, Urbiztondo 10, Matias
6, Quinahan 4, Rodriguez 3, Guevarra 0, Sharma 0.
Quarterscores: 16-27, 48-46, 75-70, 102-97
