Big Game James was at it again.
James Yap continued his stellar play on Friday night. The Elasto Painters star hit a big shot down the stretch that eventually propelled his Rain or Shine to a 107-100 win over NorthPort Batang Pier.
This is Rain or Shine’s third straight win in the Philippine Cup.
The two-time league Most Valuable Player nailed a booming triple with 2:43 left to play to give his side a 102-100 lead. His three was the highlight of the Elasto Painters’ 10-0 run that finished the Batang Pier.
“Well, nagkaroon ng chance na napunta sa akin yung bola so tinira natin, pumasok,” said Yap, who finished with 19 points – all from outside – with five assists and three rebounds.
“Ganoon lang naman ang basketball.”
Yap may have been the brightest on his team with that shot, but many still contributed in the victory.
Aside from Yap, five more Elasto Painters finished in double figures. Beau Belga had 19 points as well. Norbert Torres made 16 points; Raymond Almazan had 14; and Rey Nambatac and Maverick Ahanmisi scored 11 apiece.
And for the 36-year-old scorer, all the credit of such a well-deployed attack goes to the team sticking to the system.
“Siguro yung sistema rin, talagang umiikot yung bola. Lahat nakakatanggap ng bola so malaking bagay yun kapag nakakatanggap ka ng bola, nagkaka-kumpiyansa ka eh. Kaya siguro ganoon yung scoring namin ngayon,” Yap said.
“Dati ilang conference, ‘pag nahahabol kami or nalalamangan kami, kinakalimutan na yung sistema, puro one-on-one na lang. Ngayon buti magii-stick pa rin kami sa sistema kahit tambak kami or lamang kami.”
