Yap joins PBA 10,000-point club

With the shot clock winding down in the third quarter, Rain or Shine shooter James Yap got an open look at the basket after he took a pass from rookie guard Mike Tolomia behind the arc at the left corner.

As sophomore guard Garvo Lanete closed in, Yap – without any hesitation – let fly from behind the rainbow line and watched as the ball took a high arc.

After struggling in the early going, the two-time MVP Yap finally found his target as the shot swished in, the 3-point bucket putting him in an elite list as the 14th member of the PBA’s 10,000-point club.

“Masaya na finally na-achieve ko,” said Yap, who in the previous game failed to knock down a three-pointer against NLEX that could have won it for ROS in the first overtime. They eventually lost in double OT (122-114).

“Pero sa totoo lang hindi ko naman talaga inaasahan; never kong inasam na mapapasama ako sa ganung list or club. Kagaya nung mga naging achievements ko, hindi ko talaga target yung mga ganun.”

He added: “Basta ako laro lang, always try to help the team win games, win championships kung papalarin. Ganun naman talaga ako e, maski noon pa. Pero masaya din na napasama ako.”

A native of Escalante, Negros Occidental, the 35-year-old Yap joined a list of a virtual Who’s Who of PBA legends – Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Alvin Patrimonio, Atoy Co, Nelson Asaytono, Philip Cezar, Jojo Lastimosa, Bogs Adornado, Robert Jaworski, Allan Caidic, Jerry Codiñera, Benjie Paras and Francis Arnaiz.

Codiñera was the last player to join the elite club back in 2001, and Yap said he is not aware that he was 19 points away from scoring 10,000 points entering the season-ending conference.

“Hindi ko alam, laro lang naman ako. Pero nung mga nakaraang games, and itong game, sinasabi ng maraming tao na konti na lang. Kaya after the game, maraming nag-congratulate,” said said.

Except for the ball that was used in the game which ROS lost, 89-73, to drop to 1-2, Yap, who had requested for it as a souvenir, said he and family just had a quiet dinner without any fanfare.

“Mas importante syempre sana na nanalo kami. Kaya tapos na yon, focus uli sa next game… hopefully makabawi kami,” said Yap.

Then, maybe, a little celebration would be more fitting.