Friday night’s PBA gameday at the Cuneta Astrodome showcased a marquee match-up in the main event, as the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters went up against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
The bout itself has enough stories to tell, with the Elasto Painters wielding the upset axe on the Barangay serving as the major headline. Furthermore, Ginebra’s playoff trip was delayed, and Rain or Shine’s playoff hopes were kept alive.
But just as stories were overflowing, another one suddenly came up, involving two-time Most Valuable Player and decorated swingman James Yap and his status in the league’s all-time scoring list.
In the 118-112 win by the E-Painters, Yap contributed 16 markers. But that output wasn’t simply a number; it also helped him climb a step higher on the all-time scoring ranks, surpassing legend Freddie Hubalde to rank 14th in the list.
The 35-year-old has now amassed a total of 9,929 career points — 71 points away from becoming the 14th player in PBA history to reach 10,000 points. However, Yap iterated that he has never thought of attaining the feat, and has never planned to reach it.
“Actually di ko talaga iniisip, basta laro lang ako. Kasi the more na iisipin mo, the more na ‘di ka makakashoot dahil hinahabol mo yung points e, diba?” said the 2014 Grand Slam winner with San Mig Coffee Mixers.
“Basta goal ko ngayon is yung manalo yung team, bahala na kung ilan ang score ko.”
Still, Yap is blessed and honored for the milestone, and he has no one else to thank for but all those who have been there for him since the start of his career that has become so illustrious.
“Siyempre blessed and thankful na naabot ko yun, diba? Kung baga, dala-dala mo na yun, nakatatak na yun sayo at nakatatak ka na sa larangan ng PBA,” said Yap.
“Siyempre ‘di ko maaabot ‘to kung wala yung mga sumusuporta na mga fans, so syempre para sa kanila yun, ‘pag naabot ko na.”
As what Yap had iterated, the Elasto Painters have now chalked up a huge win in the conference. And the seven-time PBA champion now hopes that him and his team will sustain this rhythm of theirs, as they aim for the playoffs.
“Sana madala namin to in our next two games. Ang feeling kasi namin parang ang hirap manalo ngayon, buti na lang kasi masyadong mababa kumpiyansa namin lahat dahil ilang games na puro talo.
“And nag-usap usap kami, at least buti na lang maganda ang kinalabasan at sana tuloy-tuloy na,” Yap hoped.
