James Yap is continuing to turn back the hands of time.
The 36-year-old delivered yet another vintage outing on Thursday night, proving pivotal in the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ 109-100 win over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in Game Two of their best-of-five semifinal series.
The two-time league Most Valuable Player bailed Rain or Shine out of a three-point deficit with 3:16 left in the game by spearheading the Elasto Painters’ 12-0 finishing kick – he contributed five points in that scoring spree – to come out with the nine-point victory.
Yap finished the night with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting – this, after having just 16 points on 5-of-18 shooting from the floor back in Game One.
“Ako naman kasi laro lang eh,” said the 14-year pro. “Enjoyin ko lang ang moment na ‘to, kasi mahirap talaga makarating dito sa semis at Ginebra pa kalaban. Ine-enjoy ko lang talaga to.
“I’m sure yung mga teammates ko, ine-enjoy lang nila.”
This is the second time in the mid-season joust’s playoffs that Yap turned back the hands of time. He did it first back in the quarterfinals, where he erupted for 27 points to lead Rain or Shine past the upset-hungry GlobalPort Batang Pier.
Asked if this is his way of proving to the league that he is still one of the elite, Yap downplayed the sentiment.
“Sa totoo lang ‘di ko naman iniisip yun e. Ine-enjoy ko lang yung moment na ‘to na nasa semis kami,” said Yap, a winner of seven championships in the league. “‘Di ko iniisip kung ano ako or sino ako. Basta laro lang ako.”
The Elasto Painters have sent the series to a virtual best-of-three after Thursday’s win. And for Yap, he’s bracing for the fightback of the Barangay in Game Three, since he knows how coach Tim Cone works after losses.
“Knowing coach Tim, hindi matutulog mamaya yan,” warned the seven-time champion.
“Pagaaralan nila ang mali nila. Siyempre kami ready lang, I’m sure si coach Caloy [Garcia] ‘di rin magpapatalo yan at may idadagdag sa play namin.”
