Yap powers Warriors over Lancers

James Yap drained back-to-back triples in the closing minutes while Paul Artadi issued 17 assists as University of the East defeated a stubborn University of Visayas, 94-90, yesterday to advance to the best-of-three title series of the Champions League 2002 at the Makati Coliseum.

Before a large, roaring crowd, the Red Warriors were stretched to the limit by the Green Lancers who refused to be intimidated in a semifinal game that had 18 lead changes and nine deadlocks, and boiled down Yap’s heroic baskets down the stretch.

The Warriors won the "Bantay Bata Final Showdown" earlier this month and will shoot for a second crown starting tomorrow when they face the FEU Tamaraws in Game One of the finals. A second straight title will enable UE to finally bury its painful loss to Ateneo in the UAAP Final Four last September.

The Tamaraws made it to the finals by turning back the Santo Tomas Tigers in the other Final Four matchup, 83-74.

With Neil Raneses scoring 11 of his 22 points in the first quarter, UV took a 48-46 lead at the half, setting up the riveting finish as players from both sides traded big baskets and hard fouls.

Trailing 84-85 with 1:27 remaining, Yap curled out of a high post screen set by Jayarr Estrada, got the ball from Artadi and drained a top-of-the-key three-pointer to give UE the lead.