Age is more than just a number
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters got a big lift from veteran James Yap, who is all of 38 years old, to beat TNT Tropang Giga, 80-74, yesterday, Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena & Cultural Center Powered by Smart 5G.
Yap exploded for 16 points in the first half which gave the Elasto Painters the spark needed to go on to beat TNT. A tired Yap was held scoreless the entire second half but Rain or Shine youngsters Javee Mocon and Kris Rosales took up the slack to preserve the win.
The Elasto Painters (6 wins, 4 losses) formally advanced to the Quarterfinals of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup and shut the door on the playoff aspirations of the NLEX Road Warriors (4-6).
Yap—who finished with 16 points (all scored in the first half), 2 rebounds and 1 assist—was still named Player of the Game.
“Talagang importante ang game na ito. ‘Pag natalo kami dito may chance pa kaming malaglag. Ngayong nanalo kahit papaano hindi masyadong malaki ang pressure sa next game dahil sure na kami sa playoffs,” said Yap in the post-game interview.
TNT gunner Ray Parks drained a triple to the count, 72-all, at the 3:19 mark.
Mocon was steady as he converted two-of-two free throws to push Rain or Shine ahead, 74-72, with 1:28 to go in the game.
Poy Erram bulldozed his way to the paint then scored inside to tie the count at 74-all with 58 seconds left.
Norbert Torres split his charities to push Rain or Shine ahead by a point, 75-74. TNT missed a field goal attempt and Gabe Norwood pushed the loose ball to a streaking Kris Rosales who converted the fastbreak layup to extend the Rain or Shine lead to three, 77-74, with 36 seconds left to play.
TNT could not score at the other end and Mocon drained three more free throws to ice the game for Rain or Shine.
Yap reached a PBA milestone as he converted 1,171 career three pointers which pushed him to a tie at 3rd overall with Ronnie Magsanoc behind Jimmy Alapag and Allan Caidic.
“Sa tooo lang hindi ko naman iniisip ‘yon. Pag lalo mo iniisip mas lalo mahirap makuha. Laro lang ako. Ginawa ko lang ang part ko sa team. ‘Yung scoring ko,” said Yap.
The other teams in the Quarterfinals are Barangay Ginebra (8-3), Phoenix Super LPG (7-3), Alaska Aces (7-4), TNT (7-4), San Miguel Beermen (6-4), Meralco Bolts (6-4) and Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (6-4).
The Rain or Shine win formally eliminated the NLEX Road Warriors (4-6). Blackwater Elite (2-8), NorthPort Batang Pier (1-8) and Terrafirma Dyip (1-8) were ousted days before.
Good ball rotation found an open Simon Enciso who drained the open three to cut the Rain or Shine lead to 4 points, 68-64, with 8:40 to go in the fourth. Rosales scooted in for a layup while Roger Pogoy countered with a floater as the Elasto Painters retained a four-point, 70-66, advantage.
Troy Rosario drained a three-pointer over the blocking hand of Yap to cut the Rain or Shine lead to a point, 70-69, with 5:31 to go in the game.
Beau Belga used his bulk to back Poy Erram into the paint and then zipped a pass to an open Gabe Norwood who drained the jumpshot which extended the Rain or Shine lead to three, 72-69, 3:31 to go.
Yap was off to a red-hot start as he converted 4 three-pointers in the first half alone to power Rain or Shine to a 43-38 advantage at halftime.
Jewel Ponferada and Mocon, taking advantage of a lethargic TNT defense at the start of the third, converted a field goal each to hike the Rain or Shine lead to 9, 47-38.
Rosales picked the pocket of Erram, dribbled the length of the court and converted the fastbreak layup to push the Elasto Painters to a 10-point 67-57 lead after three quarters.
Rain or Shine shooter Rey Nambatac, still recovering from a right ankle injury, sat out the entire first half. TNT’s Jayson Castro and Ryan Reyes both sat out the entire game.
The scores:
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 80—James Yap 16, Javee Mocon 16, Beau Belga 12, Mark Borboran 10, Gabe Norwood 9, Kris Rosales 6, Jewel Ponferada 5, Norbert Torres 4, Sydney Onwubere 1, Adrian Wong 0, Rey Nambatac 0, Vince Tolentino 0.
TNT Tropang Giga 74—Troy Rosario 18, Poy Erram 14, Ray Parks 11, Roger Pogoy 9, Simon Enciso 9, Almond Vosotros 6, Jay Washington 4, Dave Semerad 3, Kib Montalbo 0, Harvey Carey 0, Jjay Alejandro 0, Lervyn Flores 0.
Quarter scores: 13-19, 43-38, 67-57, 80-74.