Coca-Cola used a torrid fourth-quarter run in stopping Rain or Shine, 112-96, to end a two-game slump Sunday night in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Asi Taulava struggled with an injured leg as he led the Tigers with 30 points in just 25 minutes of action to give interim coach Kenneth Duremdes his first victory.

Taulava played with a torn right calf muscle, which he got in their 82-82 heart-breaking loss to defending champion Sta. Lucia Realty last Wednesday.

But it did not slow down the one-time MVP as he shot 11of-14 from the field aside from hauling down seven rebounds.

"'Yong motion plays namin kay coach Binky (Favis) pa rin pero most of the time pumunta kami kay Asi dahil may mismatch," said Duremdes, who was tapped to handle the team in lieu of Binky Favis.

"Masaya at nakuha 'yong panalo. Maganda ito para ganado tayong magtrabaho," said the 34-year old Duremdes.

Duremdes, the 1998 MVP, is not sure whether he'll remain the team's coach the rest of the tournament but he nixed the idea of serving as playing-coach for the team.

"Nasa management ang decision. Ako nga feeling ko, player pa rin ako, hindi coach," he said. "Kung maganda ang resulta, baka mag-interim pa rin muna ako."

Taulava got plenty of help from his teammates led by Alex Cabagnot who had 19 points, eight assists and five steals in an all-around effort.

This year's top pick Gabe Norwood finished with 12 points but his partner and fellow rookie Solomon Mercado struggled offensively as he ended up with just nine on 3-of-11 shooting.

Giants beats undermanned Gin Kings

In the second game, Purefoods Tender Juicy put an end to its four-game skid, beating an undermanned Barangay Ginebra, 92-81, to improve its mark to 2-4.

The Giants played minus one-time MVP James Yap in the second half because of a hurting foot. Peter June Simon and Aaron Aban filled the gaps to run away with the victory.

Simon finished with a game-high 19 points while Aban fired a career-high 15 markers to make up for the absence of Yap, who scored all of his 12 markers in the first quarter.

"James was complaining of two ankle sprains and a bad back. This will really be a trying times for us because we lost also our top point guard (Roger Yap)," said Purefoods head coach Ryan Gregorio.

Roger Yap will be out for at least four more games because of a knee contusion.