Amazing Shark forces ‘rubber’

Shark again put up a hustling defense from the start and didn’t lose heart at endgame this time, forcing a sudden-death in the PBL Challenge Cup Finals with a 60-54 win over Welcoat Paints last night at the Makati Coliseum.

Putting behind the bitter result of Game Five Saturday, the Power Boosters seized the initiative early and went on to foil the Paintmasters’ bid to end the series in Game Six.

Pro-bound Roger Yap fashioned out a rare triple-double job in a final match and his teammates took the cue as Shark dodged a potential killer blow from Welcoat and instead forced a deciding Game Seven in their title showdown.

The two teams clash in the rubbermatch Saturday.

"If not for that erroneous call last Saturday, we would have been the champions now. But we’re abiding by the decision of the league, so we’re now thinking of Game Seven," said Shark coach Leo Austria.

"Roger (Yap) played big for us. He wanted to prove we will not back down in a fight any time," added Austria as he lauded the exploits of his ace guard.

With Shark’s back against the wall, Yap stepped up his game, logging 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists while also making one defensive stop that all but dashed Welcoat’s hopes to salvage the match.

Chester Tolomia made the final basket of the game on a slam-dunk after Yap anticipated a three-point attempt by Renren Ritualo with Welcoat down by four at 54-58 with 20 seconds left to play in the contest.

Ritualo earlier scored a booming basket from the same spot, pumping back some life on Welcoat’s bid after Shark built a 58-51 lead on a decisive run ignited by Tolomia, Yap and Rysal Castro.

Shark actually took control practically throughout, holding a 20-16 lead after the first quarter and a 37-30 cushion at the half before posting margins of eight points thrice in the final canto.

Tolomia, Castro and Gilbert Malabanan backed up Yap with 10 points or more. Ritualo paced Welcoat with 22 points.