MANILA: Like a major league pitcher, Asi Taulava got the job done with just three days’ rest — and one healthy leg.

Taulava scored 30 points in just 25 minutes on the floor last night and anchored Coca-Cola to a 112-96 win over Rain or Shine that snapped a two-game losing streak in the PBA Philippine Cup and gifted interim coach Kenneth Duremdes his first victory.

The 6-foot-10 behemoth was unstoppable even with a right calf injury, shooting 12 of his total in the second period and eight in the fourth when the Tigers broke away to win for just the second time in six outings at the Araneta Coliseum.

While Coca-Cola felt relieved, imagine what Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio felt after his Tender Juicy Giants, a top point guard and an MVP short, finally snapped out of the rut to stop Barangay Ginebra, 92-81, in the second game.

Peter June Simon was again effective coming off the bench, hitting 19 points to pace the Giants, who won for the first time in five games and only for the second time in six outings to tie the Tigers.

Purefoods came into the game already without Roger Yap before the Giants lost 2006 Most Valuable Player James Yap after the first quarter because of sprains in both ankles and a bad back.

“It’s not often that you hear James say ‘coach, I cannot play anymore’,” Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio said. “We lost our MVP and our top point guard, but still we found ways to win.”

The loss was the third straight for the Gin Kings, also undermanned with Billy Mamaril, Rafi Reavis and gunslinger Mark Caguioa continuing to be absent because of various injuries. Aaron Aban, picked up from the free agent market by Purefoods, scored seven of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and was one of those who stepped up when James Yap left the game.

“Asi had a tear in his calf and he had just three days’ rest for this game,” Duremdes told reporters later. “It turned out that those three days favored us. As you saw out there, he played well despite the limp.”

That heavily-tattooed calf got injured Wednesday night, when an odd collision with teammate Ronjay Buenafe left Taulava hobbling off the floor. That freak clash also left Sta. Lucia’s Dennis Espino wide-open underneath for the game-winning basket.

And it was a great way to make up for that ‘accident’ and put the Tigers back on track.

Taulava’s return to form despite the injury took the spotlight away from Duremdes, who called the shots for the second game for the Tigers after Binky Favis was fired on Monday night.

“I still feel like a player, and winning games as a player is much sweeter than winning one as a coach,” Duremdes said. “If the team plays well, it will favor me (keeping the job as coach). And besides, it’s all up to management. “And with this win, mas ganado tayo magtrabaho (it gives me the motivation to work harder on the bench).”

Alex Cabagnot added 19 markers, 11 coming in the pivotal fourth quarter where the Tigers broke away from a tight contest. Cabagnot also dished out eight assists in 37 minutes of action.

John Arigo chipped in 17 points, while Mark Macapagal and Mark Telan contributed 15 and 14 points respectively for Coke, which came from a heart-breaking 82-83 loss to defending champion Sta. Lucia in its previous game.

Jay-Ar Reyes led the Elasto Painters with 17 points and 13 rebounds while Allan Salangsang added 15 off bench. Gabe Norwood had 12 and Rob Wainwright netted 10 for Rain or Shine, which fell to 3-3.

The game was still close after Wainwright hit a three-pointer to slice Coke’s lead to 79-80 early in the fourth quarter.

But Cabagnot, who came to Coca-Cola from Sta. Lucia included in the trade that also brought in Duremdes, anchored a telling 11-2 exchange to give the Tigers their first double-digit lead, 91-81, heading into the final 9:15.

The spread reach as high as 23 points, 108-85, as the offense of Rain or Shine struggled the whole fourth quarter.