WITH the return of Jason Castro and Al Vergara and the acquisition of Boyet Bautista, many thought that Tyrone Tang will be just playing a support role for Harbour Centre in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup.

But the former La Salle star has proven them wrong as he continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of coach Jorge Gallent with his steady game and clutch baskets.

In fact, he’s more effective now playing alongside the high-flying Castro.

In the team’s previous two games  against Toyota Otis and San Mig Coffee, the five-foot-seven Tang stood tall as he came through with another razzle-dazzle performance that underscored his growing status in the league.

“TY has been very professional and he’s been working very hard even in our practices,” said Gallent of his prized guard who was adjudged as the Player of the Week by the PBL Press Corps.

Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero and team manager Erick Arejola were not surprised that Tang was chosen as the player of the week.

“Though I always emphasized the value of teamwork, you can’t just ignore the efforts dished by TY each game. And that’s one of the reasons why we are winning our games,” said Romero.

Tang averaged 13 points in the team’s last two games and was instrumental in maintaining the team’s momentum against determined rivals like Sparks and Coffee Kings.

Tang had 12 points against Toyota Otis, including seven that helped repel the determined comeback of the Sparks.

Against the Coffee Kings which Batang Pier dominated, 86-71, Tang ran rings around his defenders to finish with a team high 14 points. He made four-of-seven from the field and six-of-10 from the free throw line to atone for missing four shots from the three-point field.

After 11 games, Tang is contributing 10 points in 21 minutes of play.

“He is a talented player that he knows when to take control of the game. With the way he is playing right now, I think he is very much ready in the pro league,” added Gallent.

Tang beat out Castro and Burger King’s Khiel Misa for the weekly award.

MERCEDESTROPHY ON TODAY

LOCAL favorite Bones Floro appeared to have the upperhand because of his knowledge of the course, but he knows it won’t be a guarantee for him to dominate the centerpiece Class A division of the third MercedesTrophy National Final, which tees off Monday at the world-class Sta. Elena Golf Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Pressed for time for Jones Cup

Junel Baculi, head coach for the national team to the William R. Jones Cup tournament in Taiwan this July, is hard-pressed to merely invite players to join the team and would no longer hold a large-scale tryout.

REIGNING champion Ronnie Alcano recovered from three racks down to nip Liu Haitao of China, 3-2, for his second straight and a spot in the next stage of the 2008 World 8-Ball Championship at the Amir Billiards Club in Fujairah City, United Arab Emirates.

WITH the return of Jason Castro and Al Vergara and the acquisition of Boyet Bautista, many thought that Tyrone Tang will be just playing a support role for Harbour Centre in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup.

MANILA remained the only undefeated team in the Baseball Philippines Series III tournament.

This, after the Sharks beat the previously undefeated Antipolo Pilgrims, 11-5, Sunday for its fourth victory in the tournament played at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.

The flights of infancy

AS a young boy, Noli Eala was left to fend for himself. Many of his ideas are products of his childhood when he’d create his own games. A shopping bag was a makeshift hoop with a monopoly board as the backboard. Rulers and pencils served as ramps for motorcycles where his matchboxes were micro versions of Evel Knievel.