JAMES YAP understands the significance of Wednesday’s game so he expects his teammates to raise the level of their game.
B-Meg Derby Ace and Talk ’N Text are engaging in Game Five of their Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup semifinal series and Yap doesn’t want to blow their chance to take the lead.
“Sana mag-step up ulit lahat,” said the star scoring guard during post-game interview after the Llamados withstood a fiery charge by the Tropang Texters in the second half of Game Four and escaped with a 98-93 victory to tie the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.
Game Five is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
The other matchup between Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer comes off at 5 o’clock. The Beermen lead the series, 2-1, but the Kings will try to capitalize on momentum to tie the series.
B-Meg Derby Ace head coach George Gallent said their game plan is pretty much the same as in the previous four games. Their offense will still revolve around Yap and PJ Simon, who combined for 52 points in Game Four.
“If James and PJ are doubled, we just have to share the ball,” Gallent said. He was quick to point out that the bottom line and possibly the key to their success in the series depends on their ability to take care of the ball.
“We really just have to play our roles and play as a team,” said Gallent, who gave his team a day off on Monday to refresh and recharge.
With the series now reduced to a best-of-three, TNT coach Chot Reyes believes the team that shoots consistently will advance to the championship.
“The way it’s shaping up, the team that make its shot is going to win in the end. So we have to do a better job shooting and a lot more better defending,” he said.
In the aftermath of their Game Four loss, Reyes told his players they could not beat the defending champions “if we have players who were absent.”
Except for Ali Peek, who scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as a reliever, Harvey Carey (three points, five rebounds) and Ranidel de Ocampo (two points, four rebounds) were nowhere to be “found” in Game Four.
“If we play this kind of ball game, we got to have everybody showing up,” Reyes said.
Dave Corros, Business Mirror
