James Yap leaves game vs Phoenix due to groin injury

James Yap. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

ANTIPOLO CITY—Just as things were looking up for James Yap, an unfortunate injury derailed what could’ve been his finest performance yet in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Yap, who came into the game averaging 8.7 points a game for Rain or Shine, was torching Phoenix to the tune of 15 points through three quarters when he suddenly felt pain in his groin area.

Fearing that things could get worse, Yap decided to not play on.

“My groin suddenly felt painful, I didn’t want to risk it because it might get torn because I really felt that if I forced things then it will really be injured,” said Yap in Filipino after an 89-82 win over the Fuel Masters Sunday at Ynares Center.

“I know that when a groin is torn then, the recovery period is long, so I decided to just be subbed out.”

Yap was taken out of the game with 7:29 left with Rey Nambatac filling in nicely.

The Elasto Painters were trailing when Yap went out. Luckily for them, Denzel Bowles went berserk, scoring 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter.