B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados seek revenge vs. Tropang Texters

IT’S a tall order for defending titlist B-Meg Derby Ace to turn back top seed Talk ‘N Text in their best-of-seven semifinal series of the 36th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Filipino Cup, admitted two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) James Yap. Yap, the league’s MVP in 2007 and 2010, said that they need the prolific shooter Peter June Simon to do the impossible and get past the Tropang Texters in the long series.

The Llamados are down 0-1 in the series following a 91-98 setback in game one on December 28 at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City. 

Both the Llamados and the Tropang Texters will meet again in Game 2 on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum, while second seed San Miguel Beer and third-rated team Barangay Ginebra start their duel at 7:30 p.m.

The 6’2” shooting ace Yap, a second overall pick by Purefoods in 2004 and the 6’0” forward Simon are B-Meg’s Batman and Robin as they sizzled with a combine average of 33 points a game.

But Simon, a 43rd overall pick by Sta. Lucia Realty in 2001, could only managed 14 points against the Tropang Texters in Game 1 where the Escalante, Negros Occidental-native Yap topscored with 36 points.

“We have talked to each other already and I told PJ [Simon] that it’s us already who will do most of the effort. So, we agreed that we need to work together and find a way for the team to win,” said Yap.

Despite having an aching hamstring and stiff back that slowed down Yap at the start of the conference, but he defied the odds and came-up with his old deadly form that enabled the Llamados to comeback from 19 points deficit in Game 1.

Yap pointed out Simon’s high average of 29 points in their quarterfinal series against Meralco, which was highlighted with a 35-point production in Game 1 that passed through double overtime before escaping with a 106-97 victory.

“Knowing PJ, I know he will bounce back in the next game,” added Yap of Simon, who once beaten him for the MVP trophy in the Philippine Basketball League.