San Miguel’s Dorian Peña (right) blocks the shot of Purefoods’ Raffy Reavis during Game 4 of their Final Four series in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. (Photo by ALI VICOY)

James Yap recalled the form that made him a one-time MVP winner, firing 10 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter as Purefoods downed San Miguel Beer, 97-84, and tied their best-of-seven semifinal series in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-foot-2 Yap, who averaged only 13 points in the first three games of the Final Four, keyed a 16-3 run capped with a finger-roll that turned a tight 74-71 lead to 90-74 with 4:27 remaining to play.

The series is now tied with two wins apiece with Game 5 set Friday at the Big Dome.

The Giants also got solid performances from veteran playmaker Roger Yap, who missed a triple double with 15 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, while forward Marc Pingris contributed 15 with 11 boards, Rafi Reavis had 12 and 14 rebounds.

Just like in its 103-84 win in Game 2, Purefoods held San Miguel Beer to 26 of 67 shooting from the field (38.8 percent) while making 36 of 75 (48 percent) of its own shots.

The Giants also controlled the boards, 49-48, and forced their opponent to commit 18 turnovers, which they translated to 21 points.

"It has been a game of adjustments," Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio said. "We made the necessary adjustments and we were able to tie the series. They're throwing a lot of defensive schemes against us. We studied them very hard and we found an antidote for that."

"It's down to a best of three and honestly, I feel like we have a legitimate crack because of the way we've been playing and the way we've been concentrating," he added.

The Giants actually jumped the gun and took a 36-14 lead late in the first period on a jumper by Kerby Raymundo, who had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Beermen got three technical fouls all in the second period – two for resenting a foul called on Jonas Villanueva and Anthony Jay Washington, and one on a utility boy for bumping referee Jimmy Mariano during a San Miguel timeout.

The Giants were protecting a 53-44 halftime lead, and by the end of the third, they were just ahead by seven, 74-67, as Danny Ildefonso, who had 17 points and eight rebounds, joined hands with Washington, Villanueva and Arwind Santos (11 points, 11 rebounds) in a whirlwind attack.

Meantime, PBA commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios thumbed down Talk 'N Text's appeal for reconsideration to the additional P500,000 penalty for walking out and forfeiting Game 4 of its quarterfinals against Ginebra last February 5.

Barrios said that the total P1 million in fines the Tropang Texters received were not excessive.

"In 1990, the fine (for a walkout) was just P50,000. But the Commissioner (Rudy Salud) imposed a fine of P550,000. The (additional) P500,000 was the Commissioner’s discretion precisely because a walkout is something that should not take place," said Barrios.

"That was a decision 15 years after the P50,000 fine for a walkout was written in the 1975 constitution. So, if it’s 10-fold, the fine after 15 years and doubled for 20 years, that's not excessive."

The scores:
First Game
PUREFOODS 97 – Yap J. 24, Pingris 15, Yap R. 15, Raymundo 13, Reavis 12, Maierhofer 8, Simon 5, Artadi 4, Adducul 2, Allado 0.
SAN MIGUEL 84 – Ildefonso 17, Washington 14, Villanueva 13, Santos 11, Hontiveros 10, Custodio 6, Miranda 6, Pena 4, Pennisi 3, Holper 0, Cortez 0, Racela 0.
Quarters: 36-15, 53-44, 74-67, 97-84.