10,000-point plateau long overdue for James Yap
The long awaited accolade that has evaded veteran star swingman James Yap has finally come on Saturday. The two-time Most Valuable Player became the first millennial player to join the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) 10,000-point club. He scored five straight points in the closing part of the third quarter and his three-pointer officially put him in the elite club.
He’s the 14th player and the first player in 16 years to make it to the 10,000-point plateau, joining PBA legends like Ramon Fernandez, Alvin Patrimonio, Atoy Co, William “Bogs” Adornado, Abet Guidaben, Robert Jaworski, Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Philip Cezar, Jojo Lastimosa, Francis Arnaiz, and Jerry Codiñera.
Making it to the elite list was long overdue for Yap.
Once a potent offensive threat, Yap had to evolve his game beginning 2012 when Tim Cone took over as head coach of the old Purefoods franchise. Although Big Game James remained as the franchise player of the team, he had to take a back seat to give equal opportunity to the other players and embrace the complicated triangle offense.
It wasn’t an easy thing to do for a player who is at the peak of his career. He had to sacrifice individual game for team glory. True enough, the team won five championships, including a rare grand slam in 2013-2014 season.
Had he not decide to pull his punches and deviate away from the system of Cone, Yap would have scored more.
But Yap was such a good kid and set aside personal achievement for team glory.
When Cone left Purefoods Star two years ago, Yap had to search for his new identity. He struggled playing under new coach Jason Webb, although he still managed to pour in some big games.
Following a coaching change this season at Star, Yap was traded to Rain or Shine for Paul Lee.
There at the Elasto Painters camp, he found himself reunited to the team he once called a family when he was still playing in the Philippine Basketball League. But in Rain or Shine, Yap knows he had to take a back seat a bit more as there’s another gunner in Jeff Chan.
Chan has been in the squad for many years and he knows the system of coach Caloy Garcia. Yap had to sit on the bench more — watching and learning.
Now at the twilight of his career, it felt more special that Yap should win a personal accolade, something that has evaded him for the past few years. It was a long-time coming and it’s all worth it.