By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA — Former PBA Most Valuable Player James Yap delivered when it mattered most, firing a game-high 23 points as Lamtex Pipes-Hua Siong College of Iloilo dismantled POWERSOX x AcroCity-Xavier School, 72-57, in the winner-take-all Game 3 to retain the FCAAI 40-and-up championship.
Yap, who also collected five rebounds and three assists, spearheaded Hua Siong’s decisive second-half surge at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan and was named Finals MVP.
Former PBA player Ken Bono provided a powerful inside presence with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Rhagnee Sinco and tournament MVP Jaypee Belencion contributed nine points apiece for the Iloilo-based squad.
Hua Siong established a 23-16 advantage after the opening quarter but saw its lead trimmed to 37-34 at halftime.
Yap then ignited the title-clinching breakaway with an early three-pointer in the third period. Hua Siong tightened its defense and widened the gap to 56-43 entering the final quarter.
The defending champions remained firmly in control and stretched their lead to as many as 29 points before settling for the 15-point victory.
Xavier School missed the services of former PBA player Chris Tiu, who sat out the deciding contest because of the hamstring injury he sustained in Game 2. Tiu scored 17 points in Xavier’s Game 1 victory.
Bon Syjaco led Xavier with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Joseph Yeo struggled against Hua Siong’s relentless defense, finishing with 12 points on 4-of-20 shooting.
Hua Siong forced the deciding game with a commanding 79-49 victory in Game 2 after dropping the series opener.
It was the second consecutive season that Hua Siong defeated Xavier School in a three-game championship series./PN
