MANILA, Philippines — B-Meg Derby Ace guard Roger Yap has been given the green light to play in Game 2 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series against top seed Talk ’N Text on Wednesday, after an MRI scan showed the ligament tear in his ankle has already healed. Yap missed Game 1 of the best-of-seven affair, a development which PBA chairman and B-Meg official Rene Pado said contributed to their downfall to the Tropang Texters, 91-98.
“We really sacrificed Game 1 by not using Roger, but he’ll definitely play in Game 2,” Pardo said yesterday.
“The MRI showed that the tear is healing.”
The 6-foot-1 Yap was in uniform in the series-opener last Sunday, but did not play.
Pardo said Yap will join the team’s practice tomorrow in preparation for Game 2, which will be played at the Araneta Coliseum.
Yap, who usually starts at the point guard for coach George Gallent, is an integral part of B-Meg’s backcourt rotation, making up the deadly 1-2 combo with the reigning MVP James Yap, who fired 36 points in Game 1.
B-Meg, according to Pardo, is also hoping to have forward Rafi Reavis back in action for the first time this conference since injuring his right ankle and right middle finger.
The 6-foot-8 Reavis underwent an off-season surgery.
“Yung injury niya sa kamay ok na, ang concern na lang is yung paa niya. The good thing is nakaka-takbo na siya. He’ll have orthotics inside his shoes to cushion the injury,” Pardo said.
Talk ’N Text coach Chot Reyes said that the long Holiday break will favor B-Meg as the injured players will have a long time to recover and prepare not just for Game 2 but for the rest of the series, as well.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal showdown between San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra will start Wednesday.
The twice-to-beat Beermen reached the semifinals by eliminating the Air21 Express (97-75) in the quarterfinals,
while the Kings stormed into the next round by bouncing back from a Game 1 setback (101-104), winning Games 2 (94-76) and 3 (79-70) at the expense of the Alaska Aces.
Meantime, San Miguel’s Arwind Santos leads the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) derby.
The 6-foot-3 Santos, who is eyeing his first BPC award, accumulated 34.7 Statistical Points through the quarterfinal stage of the all-Filipino conference, averaging 16.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
Running second is Alaska wingman Joe Devance with 34.5 SP, followed by forward Harvey Carey of Talk ’N Text with 34.4 SP. Fourth and fifth are is SMB’s Jay Washington (34.1) and Rudy Hatfield of Ginebra (30.6).
Rounding out the top 10 are TNT’s Ali Peek (30.2) and Jimmy Alapag (30.0), Meralco’s Mark Cardona (29.7), TNT’s Kelly Williams (29.5), while SMB’s Dondon Hontiveros and Air21 rookie Rabeh Al-Hussaini are tied for 10th and 11th places (29.3).
Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
