JUST CALL HIM BIG GAME JAMES
After missing the potential game-winning three in regulation, James Yap made sure that his presence will be felt in the overtime period.
And with San Miguel Beer knocking on Purefoods’ door, the two-time MVP knocked down the big shots in the homestretch.
Yap came alive in the extra period, where he scored eight of his 15 points to lift the Hotshots to their fifth win of the conference, a 113-105 victory over the Beermen on Sunday.
“Dun ako nakakuha ng kumpyansa,” he said of his step-back right corner three at the tailend of the fourth quarter. “Ang sarap ng feeling ng last shot ko. Yun pala, hindi papasok. Buti nadala ko nung overtime. Ganun talaga yung basketball eh. Nagmimintis ka talaga.”
Though he’s still recovering from his hamstring injury, Yap just gave all he could in his 30 minutes on the floor as he tried to contribute to the cause of his team.
“Di naman ako nahihirapan, okay naman yung feeling ko nung pinasok niya ako. Si coach kasi, ganun talaga kahit sino ma-injury sa amin, kumbaga inaalagaan niya. Di niya finoforce maglaro,” Yap said. “Buti na lang pumapasok yung tira ko nung overtime. Syempre sa tulong ng mga teammates ko, yung tiwala nila sa akin, nandun, hindi sila nawawalan ng tiwala. Ganun yung team namin e. Kung sino yung open. Nangyari lang na open ako.”
And he’s happy that Purefoods finally ended its three-game slide.
“Tatlong straight kaming natalo, pag natalo pa kami this game, medyo malalaglag na kami sa number nine. Big game talaga sa amin. Ganun naman yung team namin. Tulungan lang,” he said. (RL)
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