TY Tang fired 26 points, including back-to-back triples at crunch time, as Harbour Centre stunned the Philippine team 83-74 yesterday in the 2008 PBL V-Go Extreme Energy Drink Cup at the EAC gym in Manila.

Playing as if he has been with the team for a long time, the 5-foot-10 mocked all guards thrown at him, including back-to-back MVP winner Jason Castro, en route to scoring his career best in the country’s premier amateur basketball league.

So hot was Tang that the stars of the SEA Games-bound RP team just shook their head in utter disgust and frustration each time the La Salle star knocked in a basket as he stole the thunder from former national team standout Gabe Norwood, debuting for Hapee Toothpaste.

The Hapee Complete Protectors did win, beating Mail & More 80-74 but the expected fireworks from Norwood did not come.

The 6-foot-5 Norwood was held to just 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting, as he struggled to adjust to his new teammates.

Still, Hapee coach Jun Noel was satisfied with Norwood’s showing, saying: "He’s not yet at full strength but I’m quite satisfied with his show. He made his teammates look good with his unselfish plays," said Noel.

Norwood had seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in 30 minutes of action to make up for his anemic shooting.

"Just wait for his fireworks, he’s still adjustting to my system," said Noel.

Ready explosion was provided by Tang.
He knocked in all but one of his five attempts from the three-point zone and was 4-of-4 from the stripes. In all, he was 9-of-14 from the field.

"It’s really my dream to play for Harbour Centre, so when Dr. Mikee Romero told me that he was interested in getting me, I said ‘Yes’ immediately," said the 23-year-old former Xavier School star.

"I was really challenged to play hard."

What made his performance more impressive was that he practiced with the team for only three days and his performance also caught the fancy of several team officials, including RP team manager Erick Arejola.

"He has matured a lot since helping La Salle win the UAAP championship," said Arejola.

The Nationals took a 25-16 first quarter lead as Jeff Chan and Erick dela Cuesta buried a triple each in a bristling 7-0 run.

But the Batang Pier, gunning for a fourth straight championship, rallied in the second quarter with Tang knocking in 9 points to tie the game at 46-all at the end of the first half.

Harbour Centre steadily pulled away from RP team  in the third when Edwin Asoro joined forces with Fil-Am Solomon Mercado and Tang to post a 68-60 lead, still 68 ticks left.

The Nationals tried to make a run of their own but poor shooting and numerous turnovers did them in.

Even Harbour Centre coach Jorge Gallent acknowledged that, and even joked that the RP team, most of them from Harbour, did not play its best.

"Baka pinagbigyan nila ako," said Gallent with a smile.

But truth is, no one from the RP team came close to matching the performance of the daredevil Tang.