Waiting for Big Game James

James Yap, off-target
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

Five points and (almost) four rebounds in 36.5 minutes of action in two games for the San Mig Coffee Mixers this PBA's season-ending Governor's Cup.

No, those aren't Yancy de Ocampo or Rafi Reavis' averages. Those are resident superstar and 2x PBA Most Valuable Player James Yap's output in their first two games. A woeful five points on a dreadful 0/7 clip from the arc and 2/24 from inside with Yap's only saving grace coming from the free throw line where he has managed to go 6/6.


It's been so bad for Yap that the Mixers have actually called on reserve Val Acuna and even traded for another scorer, Allein Maliksi, to bring in some firepower.  Is he injured? Is it his back? Is it due to some unwanted off-court drama?

Is he doing a Gary David and just waiting for fans to start chanting his name before he turns in a superlative performance to turn the tide?

Kidding aside, we've noticed Yap's quick-trigger of late. Either he's adjusting and developing a new style in his shot mechanics, or the guy's just trying a bit too hard to hold on to his "franchise player" title now that his team has been loaded by big time scorers, buddy PJ Simon, Maliksi and Acuna who can all light it up on any given night.

Fortunately for Yap, given his body of work, we doubt that Mixers head coach Tim Cone et. al. will throw him under the bus come their next game. If anything, expect Yap to get the ball in places where he's more comfortable. We see adjustments being made-- a more spread out version of the triangle would work wonders for the Mixers as currently constructed.

Also, Yap needs to put in the work much like he did last season when Cone first came on board. He started going back to the basics: playing defense, helping out on the boards and just picking his spots where he knows that he is most effective. Enough of the hero-ball isolation heat-checks, the Mixers just need Yap to slow down a bit and let the game come to him.

With import Marqus Blakely around, Yap doesn't need to drop 20 points a night for the Mixers to win. They just need him to make plays, make shots as we all know the 2x PBA MVP can.