It will be a homecoming of sorts on Dec. 15 for Philippine Basketball Association star James Yap as he leads the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants against the Air 21 Express in a PBA All-Filipino Cup road game at the West Negros College Gym.

The 4:30 p.m. encounter marks the second time in more than six months that WNC has hosted a PBA game. Red Bull and Alaska also played at the WNC Gym in May.

The game will be especially significant for the Escalante City-born Yap, who will play a PBA game for the first time in his home province since turning professional in 2004.

Purefoods won its first encounter with Air 21 this conference and the Giants' team manager, Alvin Patrimonio, believes the Express will pull out all the stops to avoid another defeat.

Teaming up with Yap in the Purefoods roster are Kerby Raymundo, a member of the national team that failed to clinch an Olympic spot last September, and ex-Metropolitan Basketball Association standout Peter June Simon.

Yap played for Bacolod Tay Tung High School, before transferring to Iloilo Commercial Central High School. He emerged as one of the hottest amateur prospects when he led the University of the East to third place finishes in the UAAP, where he also earned an MVP award.

Supporting the PBA road game are Casino Filipino in cooperation with Coca Cola, RBank of Hinigaran, McDonalds, St. Scholastica's Academy, City of Escalante and Circle Inn, a press release from WNC said.*CPT

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