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James Yap refused to feel down following Rain or Shine’s 94-89 defeat to Alaska on Wednesday.
The loss, which was the Elasto Painters’ fourth straight to end the eliminations, has placed his team in an unenviable position in battling Blackwater on Friday for the last quarterfinals slot.
“Well, that’s how it is. We just have to trust each other. We have to be solid as a team in these situations. This is when our chemistry will be tested. Win or lose, we have to be intact,” Yap said.
Yap played through flu, racking up 16 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
His trey at the 7:15 mark of the fourth quarter even gave Rain or Shine an 86-79 lead before being subbed out for Jeff Chan with 6:54 to play. That was when Alaska staged a fightback, taking an 87-86 lead en route to the victory.
The two-time PBA Most Valuable Player shrugged off his apparent benching late and would rather focus on the collective effort of the Elasto Painters.
“Actually, it all boiled down to how both teams played in the endgame. We just didn’t have it in the end. From the first quarter to the middle of the fourth, we were right there. Our defense was also okay but we had some lapses,” he said. “We still have a chance and we’re still not out.”
Yap said Rain or Shine has to move past its recent struggles and just focus on the task at hand as it seeks to avoid early elimination.
“Bounce back,” said Yap. “I hope we bring the good things for our game against Blackwater. We have to forget about this game and just focus on Blackwater. And that’s basketball.”