Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
James Yap was left wide open from the left corner and the rest was history.
Yap put his name in the record books on Saturday, cementing his status as one of the PBA’s best scorers after being just the 14th local player in league history to reach 10,000 career points.
The 35-year-old Yap is the first player to achieve the feat since Jerry Codiñera back in 2001.
“I never really imagined myself getting all these awards,” said the Rain or Shine swingman, whose historic night was ruined after Meralco came away with an 89-73 win at Ynares Center here, in Filipino.
The charismatic Yap, who owns one of the prettiest shooting forms the league has ever seen, made his monumental shot with 49.3 seconds left in the third quarter.
James Yap 10,000 career points. #PBA2017 pic.twitter.com/YeEB7dwfH1
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 29, 2017
He was awarded with the game ball by commissioner Chito Narvasa at center court before the start of the fourth quarter.
“I just want to thank everyone who supported me especially to my fans,” he said. “It’s been 16 years since this happened. I was still in college then and I feel so blessed right now.”
Yap, who is in his first season with Rain or Shine after spending his first 12 seasons with the Purefoods franchise, joined an elite company led by the likes of legends Robert Jaworski, Philip Cezar, Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Atoy Co and Bogs Adornado.
Greats Francis Arnaiz, Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Jojo Lastimosa and Nelson Asaytono are also part of the club.
Co was the first player to amass 10,000 while Alvin Patrimonio was the fastest player to do it.