MANILA – James Yap scored on a game-winning three-point play as Rain or Shine Elasto Painters cruised to a 75-74 win over Magnolia Hotshots in the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Trailing 72-74 after a basket by Hotshots’ Paul Lee, Yap eluded three Hotshots defenders before knocking down a one-hander to tie the score at 74-all. He then converted the go-ahead free throw to surge the Painters ahead, 75-74.
The Escalante, Negros Occidental native finished with 18 points to lead the way for the Painters, which remained on top of the standings with 7-1 win-loss slate apart from securing a playoffs spot.
“Para sa akin talaga ‘yung last play,” Yap said. “Nagpapasalamat ako kay (Painters head) coach Caloy (Garcia) sa tiwala niya sa akin to deliver the final shot at mabuti naman at nakapag-deliver ako.”
Painters were on top 20-8 early in the game on back-to-back triples by Maverick Ahanmisi and baskets from Norbert Torres, but the Hotshots clawed its way back in the second frame to come to within 33-40 at the half.
Both teams struggled in the third period but the Painters remained on top at 55-49 before extending it to seven early in the fourth on a triple by Yap but the Hotshots countered with its own rally to surge to a 68-64 lead.
Painters quickly answered on three-point conversions by Torres and Yap and a layup by Beau Belga for a 72-all score before Lee broke the deadlock for the Hotshots on a tough shot.
Ahanmisi and Torres also submitted double figured for the Painters with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Andy Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang had 16 points each for the Hotshots (0-3).
Just like in the Painters-Hotshots game, Alaska Aces also dwell on late conversions from Chris Banchero and Joachim Thoss to escape with a 103-101 victory over Blackwater Elite.
The Elite were clinging on a 100-99 lead after a triple by Allein Maliksi when Banchero and Thoss scored a basket each for a 103-99 lead. After a split free throw by Elite’s Shej Roi Sumang, the Aces wasted the final 30 seconds of the game to eke out the win.
Carl Bryan Cruz and Jeron Teng finished with 18 points apiece to lead the way for the Aces, which climbed to 2-1 win-loss slate. Maliksi tallied 25 markers for the Elite, which dropped to 1-6./PN
