Sweeter the second time for James

MANILA, Philippines - James Yap was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2010 PBA Leo Awards Night at the Araneta Coliseum for an outstanding season put in better perspective for the personal strife he went through.

Yap bagged the MVP plum for the second time in five years, becoming only the eighth PBA player to win the coveted award more than once.

“I can’t fully express how happy I am. It’s heartening to get this amid what’s I’m going through personally right now,” said Yap in Filipino.

The Derby Ace prized guard came up with a sterling performance up to the semifinals of the current conference despite marital problems that became media’s staple as much as his hardcourt exploits.

The 6-foot-2 shooting guard out of University of the East thus joined the elite cast four-time winners Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio, three-time awardee Bogs Adornado and two-time victors Abet Guidaben, Benjie Paras, Danny Ildefonso and Willie Miller.

“I’m grateful to those who believed in me. To those who voted for me, thanks for your trust and confidence,” added Yap after getting the most important hardware in the annual season-end award.

Yap dedicated his latest MVP feat to his son Baby James whom he acknowledged “as the most important person in my life.”

“He’s my biggest inspiration. I haven’t seen him for a long while now. I miss him,” said Yap.

But he made no mention of his estranged wife and television star Kris Aquino.

Alaska’s LA Tenorio and Sonny Thoss and San Miguel’s Jay Washington and Arwind Santos joined the MVP winner in the First Mythical Team while Derby Ace’s Roger Yap, Alaska’s Joe De Vance, Coca-Cola’s Asi Taulava and Talk n Text’s Macmac Cardona and Kelly Williams made up the Second Mythical Team.

Rico Maierhofer emerged as the Rookie of the Year, Tenorio also bagged the Most Improved Player award while Cyrus Baguio won the Sportsmanship Award.

Composing the All-Defensive Team were Santos, Roger Yap, Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris and Ryan Reyes.

Yap, the Derby Ace main man who averaged 18 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in the season, was the runaway winner in the MVP derby, amassing 2577 points as against Tenorio’s 1539 and Washington’s 756.

For the 28-year-old Negrense, it was a fitting ending to a great season that had him leading his team to the Philippine Cup title conquest and semis finish in the Fiesta Conference.

He earlier bagged the Best Player of the Conference plum and Finals MVP trophy in the all-Filipino tourney.

Former PBA board chair Lito Alvarez, now a member of President Aquino’s Cabinet as Bureau of Customs commissioner, was the guest of honor in the ceremonies where he was given a special tribute.

Meanwhile, Petron (formerly Purefoods) team manager Alvin Patrimonio said the team management would decide in two weeks who will take over from Ryan Gregorio as head coach of the team.

“All the coaches in the three teams of San Miguel Corp. are in the running for the post. Whoever is chosen is ready for the job,” said Patrimonio.