James Yap jokes: Hotshots want their revenge on old Powerade foe Gary David

Gary David only played seven minutes in San Miguel Beer's 108-99 loss to Star on Monday night, but the Hotshots could not help but remember when El Granada dealt them a huge heartbreak in 2011.

 

Back then, David's no. 8 seed Powerade team pulled off a huge upset against the twice-to-beat B-Meg in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Cup. The veteran scorer went berserk with 37 points in that game and knocked them out of the playoffs.

 

David scored only eight points in Game One of the Commissioner's Cup on Monday, but his presence reminded and motivated Star to fight despite the odds.

 

"Sana makalusot para ma-experience naman namin 'yung nangyari sa amin before," said James Yap, who sat out of the game due to a calf injury. "Number one kami tapos na-twice to beat din kami ng Powerade."

 

After forcing the sudden death against the Beermen, who recently acquired David in free agency, the former league MVP joked about exacting revenge on their old tormentor.

 

"Makaganti man lang sa kanya (David)," he said, laughing.

 

Even PJ Simon, who carried the scoring cudgels in Yap's absence and scored 22 points, said the memory of their 2011 defeat was still fresh in their minds.

 

"Naalala pa namin 'yun. Kami 'yung number one tinalo kami ng number eight. So hopefully sa favor naman namin mangyari 'yun," he said.

 

The Hotshots and Beermen will clash for the do-or-die match on Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. — DVM, GMA News