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[av_heading heading=’BUZZER BEATER | Black gives Bacolod native a second chance’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, March 24, 2017
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JUSTIN Chua seemed headed nowhere after being released by the Barako Bull Energy Cola until he was picked up by Meralco Bolts head coach Norman Black as practice player last season.
The Bacolod City native center did not have a good start with the Bolts after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. He has since recovered and is now part of Black’s rotation.
“Siyempre nagpapasalamat ako kay coach Norman dahil binigyan niya ako ng chance with his team,” said Chua, who also played for Black at the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP.
“Nung last time galing kasi ako sa ACL injury. Wala pa ako sa rhythm. I just worked my ass out, kept training at nabigyan lang ng chance ni coach Norman. Sana maibalik ko yung kabaitan niya sa akin,” Chua said.
During Bolts’ 91-84 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors last Sunday, Chua scored all his six points in the final quarter, sparking a 19-4 scoring run that gave the Bolts the needed cushion to cruise to the win.
“Justin is out there for two reasons,” Black said. “He’s a very smart player, he doesn’t back down and he doesn’t hurt you. What I mean by that is he doesn’t make very many mental mistakes, offensively or defensively.”
“The second reason he’s out there is because he can hit open shots,” Black added. “He missed a couple down the stretch, but for the most part, he can make an open jump shot, he can score and finish around the basket.”
With how he complements Bolts import Alex Stepheson, the 6-foot-6 Chua was inserted in Black’s starting unit in their first two games this conference — after starting in just four games his entire career.
“Hopefully ma-sustain ko to,” Chua said. “Since college, si coach malaki tiwala niya sa akin. Sobrang grateful ako. Basta every game, kailangan kong ayusin. Gagawin ko lang yung best ko always and try to help our big men out.”
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James Yap used the conference break to work back on his conditioning and a strong resolve to bounce back following an inconsistent performance for his new team Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Cup.
No wonder, the Escalante, Negros Occidental native has started the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup like a house on fire, leading the defending champion Painters to back-to-back triumphs over NLEX Road Warriors and Mahindra Floodbuster.
Yap opened the conference with averages of 19.0 points and 3.0 rebounds en route to capturing the first Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period March 17 to 19.
The 35-year-old Yap contributed 26 points, his highest scoring output in over three seasons, in Painters’ conference debut at the expense of the Road Warriors, 113-105, on Friday.
Bringing back the hands of time, the 6-foot-2 Yap capped his scorching performance with five three-pointers, including the step-back triple that shook off Road Warriors center Bradwyn Guinto in the endgame.
Two days after trouncing the Road Warriors, Yap came off the bench to add 12 points, laced with three three-point conversions as the Painters scraped past the tough Floodbuster in overtime, 99-95.
“I felt last conference, his (Yap) knee wasn’t that good pa, pero nung offseason medyo maganda takbo niya sa practice,” Painters coach Caloy Garcia said of the rejuvenated Yap. “He comes early, shoots the ball, nagda-dunk pa sa practice to show he’s healthy.”
The Painters, which is eyeing to retain its Commissioner’s Cup crown, takes a weeklong break before returning to action on Sunday against Blackwater Elite at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City./PN
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