FINALS MVP: WHO ELSE, BUT BIG GAME JAMES!
James Yap was so determined in this huge battle, his spirit won’t wane even a bit, fatigued and all at crunch time.
The San Mig Super Coffee star came through with a personal conference high of 29 points in the game of their lives, leading the Mixers to a grand slam-clinching 92-89 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to close the 39th PBA season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
“Eto yung series na ang hirap i-close. May mga crucial misses ako pero sino ba ang gustong mag-miss. Basta ang alam ko tinira ko ng maayos. Kung mag-miss man, wala akong pakialam,” said Yap.
Yap, however, made majority of his shots, including the biggest buckets that eventually propelled the Mixers to the Triple Crown.
He went 3-of-6 from the three-point area, 9-of-12 from the two-point zone, 2-of-5 from the stripe and also hauled down eight rebounds in 38 minutes of action.
Saving his best for last, he ended up the unanimous choice for the Holcim Finals MVP award.
It’s his second straight Finals MVP citation and fourth in all, going with the two season MVP awards won in 2006 and 2010.
“Sobrang blessed. Thank you Lord,” said the 2004 Rookie Draft No. 2 pick.
“But more than the individual award, mas thankful ako sa achievement na nakuha ng team namin. Imagine first grand slam in 18 years,” Yap added.
Actually, Yap had never scored this much since piling up 30 points in Game Seven of their Philippine Cup semifinal showdown with Barangay Ginebra.
Breaking down the defenses of all the defenders thrown at him, Yap delivered his biggest output in their last four finals.
In this Governors’ Cup Finals, he averaged 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
He stood out and put another feather on his cap. (SB)
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