CALL HIM BIG SHOT JAMES
He is not called Big Game James for nothing.
After hitting the left baseline fadeaway which proved to be the game-winner in Game 3, Yap was expected to do an encore.
But in the early goings of Game 4, he struggled to make his presence felt as the Coffee Mixers found themselves down by as much as 16.
But then came a fiery fightback in the second half and coach Tim Cone just knew he can rely on his two-time MVP when the opportunity presented itself.
“James is James, and he’ll always send you strong reminders of who he is,” said Cone.
Well, he did.
With San Mig down 71-80, James hit a right baseline floater, which got himself going, and at the same time, jumpstarted San Mig’s comeback bid.
He followed that up with a three-pointer from the top of the arc in the last 5:58 to cut the lead to three, 85-82.
Yap also started San Mig’s 16-4 run with a jumper, and in the middle of Mark Barroca’s excellence in that pivotal run, drilled what Cone says was the biggest shot of the series – a three-point shot from the left wing that gave the Coffee Mixers a 93-89 advantage that they never relinquished.
“That was the shot of the day that broke Talk ‘N Text’s back,” Cone said.
As the balloons fell down from the rafters with San Mig celebrating its 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup title, Yap had 10 points and five rebounds for his final statline.
He might have averaged just 11.5 points, 4.3 boards, and 1.7 assists in the Finals, but hitting the two biggest shots in the series is enough to give him the 2014 Holcim Cement PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals MVP.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga teammates ko kasi talagang nandyan sila para sa akin, ine-encourage ako pag off night ako at patuloy akong pinagkatiwalaan,” Yap said. “Nagpapasalamat din ako sa mga fans dahil wala kami ngayon dito kung di dahil sa suporta ninyo.” (RL)
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