After flu James Yap suffers back injury

Nothing has been going right for James Yap in this conference. If it wasn't headline-hugging off-court issues, it was a battle with the flu and, now, a nagging back problem.

The San Mig superstar, though, is fighting on.

"Ganoon talaga, sana maging okay na," Yap said after once again playing limited minutes while scoring seven points in San Mig's 100-92 win over Meralco on Sunday night. "Pero laban lang ng laban, kaya yan."

Yap has been struggling in the entire PBA Commissioner's Cup and more so in his past seven games, with San Mig coach Tim Cone admitting the two-time league MVP wouldn't even be on the court if it weren't the playoffs.

"If this was a regular elimination game, he wouldn’t be playing," said the multi-titled mentor. "It just so happened it’s a playoff game so he had to fight through. He’s doing the best he can in the series."

His latest injury problem is, actually, an offshoot of his bout with the flu in the previous weeks. In his desire to get back in shape, Yap did extra practice and ended up hurting his back.

The back injury, in turn, has become a dilemma for Cone.

"(When) he’s had warm-up, he’s okay to start the game. But when he sits down, his back starts to stiffen up, then loosens up a little bit later, then tightens up again," said the San Mig coach.

"It’s constant management for him. I’m a little scared to play him in the fourth quarter."

Cone, however, is hoping that the two days between Game Two and the deciding match on Wednesday would give his top gun enough time to get himself in better shape. Yap is also set to undergo an MRI scan on his back on Tuesday.

"We’re hoping now we have two days for therapy for James," Cone said. "Hope he gets better and healthy."

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Stars showdown as Caguioa edges Yap

Two of today's top PBA gunners went at each other on Sunday night. And in the end, it was the 'The Spark' who got the better of his veritable shootout over 'Big Game James.'

Mark Caguioa outscored James Yap in their one-on-one duel as Barangay Ginebra edged out defending champion San Mig Coffee, 96-88, in a battle of Commissioner’s Cup marquee teams before a huge crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Caguioa topscored for the Kings with 25 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point territory, two of them serving as huge cushion for the league’s most popular team at the height of a furious Mixers endgame rally.

Yap finished with 21 points and was 4-of-11 from beyond the arc, but his back-to-back three-pointers in the final two minutes had the Mixers breathing down the Kings' neck coming home.

But on this night, there was no denying the reigning league MVP as he and the Kings pulled off one over the former two-time MVP and the defending champions.

Caguioa, who also had seven rebounds and five assists, later played down the shootout, but appears to relish his rivalry with Yap.

“There’s always a rivalry. May mga fan bases yan. There’s gonna be fans of James Yap, there’s gonna be fans of Mark Caguioa and hindi magpapatalo ang dalawang yan,” said Ginebra's acknowledged heart and soul.

Yap had three assists and three rebounds, and appears uncomfortable talking about the rivalry being hyped between him and Caguioa, with whom he’s close with outside the court.

“Sa akin naman I don’t think may rivalry kami. Nagkataon lang talaga na lahat naka-focus sa amin,” said the shooting guard out of University of the East.

 “Basta we’re just doing our thing inside the court. Personally, sa akin walang rivalry. Kakulitan ko nga yang si Mark,” added the San Mig Coffee star.

“Ang importante lang is to perform like tonight.”

by: @gerardmos

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James Yap in Eat Bulaga to grant wish of his fan with Pingris

With his team unexpectedly hugging the cellar, no wonder James Yap haters are coming and rejoicing in full force.

But for the two-time MVP and probably one of the most lethal offensive players in the league, detractors are a barometer of success. And in his team’s case today, added motivation.

“Haters? Nirerespeto ko sila, may negative na pag-iisip… may mga positive rin… hindi nam
an ako affected,” said Yap in an interview with Solar Sports Desk.

“Pag naapektuhan ka kasi nila mas makukuha nila ang purpose nila,” said the two-time MVP with a smile. “Sa ngayon ang focus ko is to help our team win.”

And just this Monday afternoon, Yap joined fellow Mixer Marc Pingris in a special appearance at top rating noon-time show, Eat Bulaga, where an ailing fan requested to meet them in person.

The said segment was part of the show’s popular segment - Juan for All, All for Juan - where the San Mig duo gave away jerseys, signed balls, shoes and pangkabuhayan showcase to a young fan named Robbie.

Yap also invited fan to a VIP seat in their game against Alaska Aces on March 6.

“Isa talaga siya sa pinakasikat na player ngayon ng PBA, 1 or 2 yun. Palitan sila sa pwesto ni Mark Caguioa? Sino pa ba ang pwede mong ilinya sa harap nila?” said Willie Marcial, PBA Media Bureau chief.

Marcial is also happy that mainstream programs like Eat Bulaga are now inviting again PBA players in different entertainment programs, something that was very popular back in the gloray days of Philippine basketball when players even take lead roles in some films like Last 2 Minutes, Shoot Dat Bol, Wooly Bully and Dunkin Donato.

In the most recent Metro Manila Film Festival, a number of current PBA stars like Pingris, Ronald Tubid and Jun-Jun Cabatu had a cameo role in Si Agimat, Si Enteng at Ako.

The amiable PBA official also told Solar Sports Desk that the PBA is always to accommodate guestings of players in different shows, provided that it will not be in conflict with team practice and schedule.

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Escalante, Negros Occidental native is also rallying his teammates to continue on with the new-found grit, especially now that they’re coming off an impressive 90-82 win against heavily-favored Talk n’ Text Tropang Texters, that arrested their poor 0-3 start.

“Distracted ang team ngayon, pero kailangan talagang mabalik yung focus namin at kalimutan yung bad start namin,” stressed the soft-spoken Yap.

Averaging close to 30 minutes a game, Yap only played for 17 minutes Sunday night because of a still painful hip plexor injury that slowed him down Friday against the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.


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