RISK PAYS OFF
What do you do when your star player was just whistled for his fourth foul?
Most of the coaches sit him, hoping to conserve him up to the end of the game.
But San Mig coach Tim Cone is no ordinary coach.
With James Yap being whistled for his fourth foul in the third quarter and asking to be subbed out, all Cone said was, “what are we saving him for?”
Of course, it’s already the Finals and every move one makes may spell the difference between a won and a lost match.
Fortunately for the Coffee Mixers, the risk reaped dividends as Yap heated up in the third quarter, scoring 11 to finish with 13 points.
For the two-time MVP, he just felt that he had to give his share as he only logged in nine minutes in the first half.
“Ang nasa isip ko lang, pag pinasok ako kailangan makatulong ako kahit ilang minuto lang,” he said. “At least nagawa ko naman yung part ko.”
“Nung first quarter, yung unang tira ko, pumasok agad eh. So yung kumpyansa, andun na eh. Tapos naputol. Nabitin ako. So sabi ko, mabigyan lang ako ng chance talaga, gagawin ko yung part ko makatulong sa team,” Yap added.
“Nung third quarter, parang gigil ako. Tapos biglang uminit ba. Nakaka-rebound ako, nakaka-putback ako, so yung kumpyansa andun na. Pag hina-handoff, tinitira ko agad kasi wala pa kong tinira eh. Not to mention, foul trouble ako kaya at least thank God, pumasok naman yung mga tira.”
Though they have finally broken the pattern of give-and-take games, as they now own a 2-1 series advantage over Rain or Shine, Yap still keeps his focus in the series.
“Ganun pa rin. Kailangan focus pa rin kami. Ganun naman sa championship eh. I’m sure, paghahandaan din kami ng mabuti ng Rain or Shine kasi nakauna na kami sa kanila,” he said.
“This coming Game 4, dapat start strong kami kasi ang Rain or Shine ganun sila. More physical ang Game 4 kasi pag natalo sila, mahirapan na silang makabalik so all out na sila. Handa lang kami.” (RL)
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