ACCEL 3XVI UAAP-PC Player of the week James Yap (20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds)

MANILA, Philippines -  Maliban sa opensa, maaari ring pakinabangan ni San Mig Coffee headcoach Tim Cone si two-time PBA Most Valuable Player James Yap sa depensa.

Sa dalawang sunod na panalo ng Mixers laban sa Globalport Batang Pier at Ginebra Gin Kings sa 2013 PBA Governor’s Cup, nagposte si Yap ng mga averages na 20.5 points at 6.5 rebounds.

Kaya naman siya ang hinirang na Accel-PBA Players of the Week.

“He’s turned his defense up,” sabi ni Cone sa 31-anyos na si Yap.

“Yeah, he’s shooting the ball well. But that means very little to me, from a coaching standpoint. To me he’s been doing all the other stuff and he’s really doing it now.”

“He deserves it (Player of the Week citation) from a scoring standpoint but also for the rest of the stuff. He’s led us. I think he has really inspired his teammates by his defense and the effort there,” dagdag pa ng mentor.

Sa 89-86 panalo ng San Mig Coffee laban sa Ginebra noong Linggo, nagtala si Yap ng 19 points at 9 rebounds kasabay ng pag-limita kay Mark Caguioa sa 0-of-11 fieldgoals shooting.

“Nagpapasalamat akong sobra sa mga teammates ko, kay coach Tim, sa coaching staff. Hindi talaga sila nag-give up sa akin kaya pursigido talaga akong mag-live up sa tiwala nila sa akin,” wika ng dating UE Red Warrior.

Sa kanilang huling apat na laro, naglista si Yap ng mga averages na 19 points at 6.0 rebounds. “Kailangan ng team kaya tuluy-tuloy ang trabaho,” sabi ni Yap.