BY NOLI CORTEZ

THERE’S good news and bad news for Purefoods. James Yap’s sore ankles and bad back are definitely getting better. Proof was his 31-point game the last time out.

"I just keep on pushing myself," the former MVP said. "Kailangang-kailangan kasi ng team."

There’s also the arrival of forward Rich Alvarez, who should definitely boost the Giants’ frontline.

"We are excited to play our first game with Alvarez," Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio said yesterday on the eve of his team’s clash with Talk N Text in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Astrodome.

"He will help us with our problems in the 3-spot," added Gregorio. "His ability to guard and get rebounds compliments the games of Kerby (Raymundo), James and Rico (Villanueva). He is definitely a major addition."

Alvarez’s arrival from Red Bull in a trade completed last week and recently approved by Commissioner Sonny Barrios means veteran Richard Yee has to be relegated to the reserve list to make room in the Giants’ 14-man active roster.

The bad news is that Gregorio’s backcourt has been stretched to paper-like thinness since ace reliever Peter June Simon is joining star playmaker Roger Yap in the sidelines due to a knee injury.

Simon, last season’s Sixth Man of the Year awardee by the PBA Press Corps, suffered a slight tear on the medial collateral ligament of his left knee during practice recently. After surgery, he will have to sit out for some five weeks.

Despite the absence of Roger Yap’s main substitute, who usually makes up the majority of Purefoods’ bench production, Gregorio is putting up a brave front. "We will find ways to win in spite of the injuries to our key men," he stated.

The Giants should, considering their bid to win their third straight game will be staked against a Tropang Texters crew equally bristling to snap out of a two-game slide.

"We’re going all-out to break two streaks, theirs and ours," said TNT coach Chot Reyes, whose team is coming off losses to Red Bull and Rain or Shine.

Trying to cut short its own alarming skid is Sta. Lucia Realty, which tangles with Alaska in the other game.

The Aces are bidding to join idle leader San Miguel Beer at the top and could do that if the Realtors flash their woeful form of late.