After nine years, James Yap has reclaimed his status as the king of three-point shooters in the PBA, as he stamped his class in the 2018 PBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout, Friday evening at the Batangas City Sports Center.
The three-point champion back in 2009, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard put on an excellent showing, much to the delight of the Batangueños, scoring 24 points both in the qualifying and final rounds en route to the crown.
“Puwede pa rin pala. Sobrang happy ko after nine years nanalo uli,” said the 36-year-old.
The triumph was made sweeter by the fact that Yap had been expected to forego the contest due to a wrist injury.
Yap bested GlobalPort ace Stanley Pringle (21 points) and TNT Katropa star Terrence Romeo (16 points) in the final. Romeo had been the presumed winner following his 24-point outing in the Legends Shootout last Wednesday.
The two-time league Most Valuable Player also defeated Jvee Casio, Ronald Tubid, Matthew Wright, LA Tenorio, Paul Lee, Marcio Lassiter, KG Cañaleta, Larry Fonacier, and erstwhile defending champion Allein Maliksi.
With the 14-year league veteran’s victory, two Elasto Painters have now won in this year’s All-Star side events, with the first one being Beau Belga, as he won the Obstacle Challenge among big men earlier.
“Si Beau nanalo sa Obstacle. Siguro oras ng Rain or Shine,” Yap quipped.
