Down by double-digits in the second quarter, B-Meg Derby Ace appeared on the way to another loss but
James Yap and company just didn’t want to give up.

Their determination and courage led the Llamados to a 104-97 stunner against Talk 'N Text Friday
night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

James Yap scattered a conference-high 24 points to lead a superb effort by the backcourt
unit of Derby Ace, which snapped a two-game skid and improved to a 2-5 [win-loss] record.

“We started flat. But we picked up when we we’re down by 16. The guys just didn’t wanna give
up,” said Derby Ace coach Jorge Galent afterwards.

“Our guards played really good tonight. They matched up well against TNT’s backcourt,” the
Llamados' rookie coach added.

PJ Simon warmed up in the second quarter, scoring 13 points, including 2-for-2 from 3point range as
Derby Ace wiped out 22-38 deficit and took a 54-53 lead at halftime. Derby Ace outscored TNT in the
quarter, 36-23.

Simon eventually finished with 23 points while Jonas Villanueva scored 13 of his 17 points in the
second half as Derby Ace’s backcourt unit provided the team with a steady contribution of points,
most of them coming from rainbow country.

“This is the second straight time we outrebounded a great rebounding team. I hope we
could sustain the momentum,” said a visibly pleased Gallent whose wards edged the conference's
top rebounding team, 46-43.

James Yap, forced to play forward in the absence of Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingris, sent the crowd
roaring midway in the third quarter when he spun around TNT guard Ryan Reyes then scored on lay-up
over Kelly Williams. Fouled, he made the bonus shot to complete the three-point play that broke an
88-88 count and shoved the Llamados
ahead for good, 91-88, with 5:35 left to play.

“This is the key if we should win. We should always keep playing aggressive basketball for 48
minutes,” Gallent said.

Kelly Williams scored 22 points and Jimmy Alapag added 18 for the Texters, who picked their second
loss in seven games.

It was a tough loss for the Tropang Texters who were hoping to win this game to stay abreast with
leader San Miguel (6-1).

As a team B-Meg Derby Ace shot 51 percent (42 of 82) from the field and made 10 of 20 attempts from
the 3-point range.

In contrast, TNT made just 37 of 81 attempts (45 percent) overall from the floor and converted just
5 of 16 attempts from the trifecta zone. (DBC)

The scores:

B-Meg Derby Ace 104 - Yap J. 24, Simon 23, Villanueva 17, Gaco 12, Maierhofer 8, Yap R. 8, Salvador
6, Allado 4, Adducul 2, Acuna 0, Canaleta 0.

Talk 'N Text 97 - Williams 22, Alapag 18, Carey 15, Dillinger 12, Castro 12, Fonacier 9, Reyes 5,
Aban 4, Yee 0, Lao 0, Peek 0.