Player of the Week: James Yap clutch as Rain or Shine stays on top

James Yap. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

James Yap may be past his prime but he still has a lot left in his tank.

The Rain or Shine swingman has been on a tear through the first eight games of the season and his torrid start has been one of the big reasons why the Elasto Painters have emerged as the top team so far in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup.

Yap, who just turned 37 on Friday, isn’t as quick and explosive as before but remains one of the deadliest players in crunch time.

He delivered a couple more clutch performances for the Painters just before the league headed into its two-week break to give way for the Philippine men’s national basketball team.

The four-time Finals MVP had a pair of 18-point outings in Rain or Shine’s last three games and both of those occasions, he came through for his squad down the stretch.

The Negros Occidental native completed the game-winning three-point play to beat Magnolia, 75-74, last Wednesday just five days after burying a triple with under three minutes left that put Rain or Shine ahead for good in a 107-100 win over NorthPort.

His vintage showing earned him the PBA Press Corp Player of the Week citation and helped the quarterfinals-bound Painters improve to 7-1.