CAGAYAN DE ORO, 1 May 2006 — All the stars showed up alright, but one of a lesser light stood tallest when winning time came.
Reserve guard Roger Yap came up with the game’s biggest plays Saturday night, lifting the South to a nail-biting 122-120 win over the North in the annual Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Game at the Xavier University gym here.
Despite all the big names that adorned the South lineup, Yap provided the heroics to the exciting finish, snaring two crucial boards and nailing an important charity for the win that also took the luster away from two record performances by his teammates.
Asi Taulava led the Southerners with 30 points and his 16 rebounds established a new All-Star high, while Jimmy Alapag dished out 16 assists for a new mark in the annual classic watched by a banner crowd.
Taulava eclipsed the old mark of 15 plucked by all-time great Jerry Codiñera in the 1992 edition of the event. Alapag, on the other hand, obliterated Bal David’s 13 assists in 1997.
The game was tied for the last time at 120, when Willie Miller hit a three-pointer and a free throw and Ren-Ren Ritualo connected on a long bomb.
Alapag then shattered the tie, hitting one-of-two from the stripe with 39 seconds left and giving the North the golden chance to forge ahead. Miller took a three-point attempt that was short and Yap collared the rebound.
The rock-hard, 5-foot-10 Purefoods guard, who was playing in his first All-Star Game, was sent to the stripe by an Enrico Villanueva foul with both sides in penalty heading into the final four seconds.
Yap missed the second free throw but grabbed the offensive board over some of the biggest men in the league, embracing the leather until time expired.
The victory allowed the South to level its score with the North at three victories each. It also avenged a loss last season when the game was held in Laoag City in the North.
Meanwhile, Mark Caguioa is set to be slapped a hefty fine for snubbing the All-Star Weekend.
The streak-shooting Barangay Ginebra swingman did not make the trip to this bustling city altogether, though he sent word that he was nursing an injury which was not divulged.
Eric Menk did not see action for the South to rest a bruised knee. Ali Peek did not dress for the North because of a similar injury. But both were at the venue.
Danny Ildefonso, Uichico’s center at San Miguel, led the Northerners with 26 points, with Villanueva scattering 20 and Ritualo 18.
Six players tallied 10 points or more for the South, with Rafi Reavis of Coca-Cola contributing 17, Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel chipping in with 16, the Yaps, Roger and James, finishing with identical 15s and Danny Seigle shooting 10.
