Fresh from signing a new three-year contract, James Yap wasted no time proving he's worth every penny at least in their first game in PBA Season 44.
Yap scored a game-high 20 points spiked by 4-of-7 three-pointers and added three assists to lead Rain or Shine to a triumphant season debut on a 96-87 drubbing of NLEX at the Cuneta Astrodome Friday night.
Javee Mocon made good impression in his pro debut, coming through with 13 markers that went with five rebounds to help ROS through against former head coach Yeng Guiao and his NLEX squad.
"From the start, we thought Javee Mocon is a steal from the draft," said ROS coach Caloy Garcia of the No. 6 draft selection.
"From his San Beda days, he showed malakas ang katawan niya at kayang makipagsabayan. The nice thing is that he doesn't stop working hard," Garcia also said.
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The Elasto Painters won the battle off the boards, 53-38, and the shootout from afar.
Yap, Mocon, Jewel Ponferada, Beau Belga, Kris Rosales, Maverick Ahanmisi, Norbert Torres and Ed Daquiaog combined for 17 three-pointers as against 12 by the Road Warriors.
But it actually took the Elasto Painters a while to get going, trailing by seven before finding their touch to fuel a run that had them seizing control and leading by as many as 18.
"Both teams couldn't shoot in the first six minutes. We had a bad start but we had a good ball movement, and James stepped up big time," said Garcia.
Yap drilled in 11 as the E-Painters turned the game around and led, 40-31, at halftime.
The E-Painters made it 72-57 at the end of the third and hung tough through the final canto, spoiling the return of Kevin Alas and the NLEX debut of Poy Erram.
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JR Quinahan top scored for the Road Warriors with 19, with Alas and Erram contributing 12 and 10, respectively.
Free agent acquisition Marion Magat scored 13 in his NLEX debut. (SB)
The scores:
Rain or Shine 96 - Yap 20, Mocon 13, Ponferada 12, Ahanmisi 11, Torres 11, Belga 9, Rosales 7, Daquioag 5, Nambatac 4, Norwood 4, Borboran 0, Maiquez 0, Alejandro 0.
NLEX 87 - Quianahan 19, Magat 13, Alas 12, Porter 10, Erram 10, Paniamogan 8, Ighalo 6, Fonacier 4, Soyud 3, Tallo 2, Galanza 0, Tiongson 0, Baguio 0.
Quarters: 17-21, 40-31, 72-57, 96-87.
