It took awhile for James Yap to get going Wednesday night.

But when he did, he carried the rest of the hefty Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants on his back and propelled them over a Sta. Lucia squad that has gone great lengths in stopping him.

The small forward from Ecalante City, Negros Occidental struck for 20 of his 30 points in the final period and the Giants scored an equalizing 89-81 victory that forced a yours-or-mine Game 7 Sunday in the PBA All-Filipino Cup.

“I had to step up because there was no tomorrow for us,” Yap told the DAILY STAR in a telephone interview yesterday.

Yap admitted being overeager in the early goings of Wednesday night’s tiff and vowed to be consistent when they meet the Realtors for all the marbles on Sunday.

“It was nice to be back. I got over excited,” he said of his performance in the first three quarters.

Yap missed game 5 due to suspension, after committing a flagrant foul 1 on Joseph Yeo in Game 3. The foul was elevated to a flagrant 2 by commissioner Sonny Barrios, despite a standing memorandum from former commissioner Noli Eala that judgment calls from referees should be upheld during the finals.

Reports from Manila indicated that his suspension has allegedly created a ripple off the court with San Miguel --- Purefoods’ mother company --- pulling out all of its advertisements during Game 6 and PBA technical chief Perry Martinez taking a leave of absence.

In the middle of the controversy, Yap is taking everything in stride.

“I just want to focus on game 7. I’m focused on winning the title for our team,” he said.

Yap said he has already adjusted to the Realtors’ defense that was able to limit him in the first two games of the series.

 “The referees are now calling fouls when they hold me so I can now move better,” he added. *CPT

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