THEY may be down in the standings of the 2010-11PBA Philippine Cup, and may be without three of its
key players at the moment.

But everything is not bad news at all about the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados.

James Yap, the two-time reigning league MVP, is one major positive development to emerge from the
Llamados’ camp of late after regaining back the same form that has made him the hottest property
today in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.

The shooting guard out of University of the East proved it Friday when he led the Llamados from the
depth of a 16-point first half deficit to beat the Talk `N Text Tropang Texters, 104-97.

Yap drained in a team-high 24 points and scored eight of the team’s last 14 points, including a
critical three-pointer that tied the game for the last time at 88.

Halfway through the tournament where the Llamados are the defending champions, Yap vows to get even
better as the team scrambles for a last ditch shot at a seat in the quarterfinals.

“Hindi pa naman tapos `yung laban. Ang tingin namin maganda ang tsansa namin sa No. 8 kaya `yun
muna ang target namin,” he said.

Although the stunning win by the Llamados over the Tropang Texters was only their second in seven
outings, things could have been better for the reigning champions had not big men Raffy Reavies,
Marc Pingris and Kerby Raymundo gone down with various injuries prior to the start of the league’s
36th season.

The matter was compounded even more when Yap underwent surgery to remove polyps in his nose.

Although he barely missed a game, the operation obviously slowed down Yap as he was required to
wear a protective mask during game time.

“Mahirap maglaro ng naka-mask dahil `yung vision mo hindi one hundred percent. `Yung peripheral
side mo ang kadalasang apektado,” he bared.

The operation also left him idle for two months, barely preparing him for the new season.

“At the time, wala talaga ako gaano sa kundisyon. `Yung legs ko sobrang bigat kaya hirap akong
tumakbo. Yung utak mo lang ang parang gumagana, pero yung katawan mo hindi makasabay,” Yap added.

With their top gunner struggling, the injury-riddled Llamados understandably limped early on,
losing their first three assignments before notching a breakthrough win at the expense of former
coach Ryan Gregorio and the Meralco Bolts, 75-71, two weeks after the tournament kicked off.

Although Derby Ace went to lose two of its next two games after that, Yap began to show signs of
full recovery.

“Nag-double time tayo sa practice tsaka sa effort, kaya unti-unti nakabawi na rin,” said the
6-foot-3 native of Escalante, Negros Occidental.

“Yung stamina ko andun na at tsaka nakakasabay na ako sa team ngayon.”

And that wasn’t more evident than in the Llamados’ game against powerhouse San Miguel when Yap
exploded for 21 big points. Too bad, Derby Ace lost to the Beermen on Alex Cabagnot’s game-winner
at the buzzer, 85-83.

“Sayang nga `yung sa San Miguel game,” he said with disappointment.

But against the Tropang Texters, Yap didn’t let the game slip past the Llamados’ hands.

“Kailangan talagang manalo dahil alam natin maiksi `yung eliminations,” he said. “Ang totoo
nga, hanggang ngayon sabi ng doctor ko kailangan ko pang mag-mask during games. Pero apektado rin
kasi `yung laro ko, kaya pinatanggal ko na. Bahala na kung matamaan.”

And if that warrior attitude from one of the game’s most deadliest shooters today isn’t enough,
listen to what his Derby Ace coach, Jorge Gallent, has to say.

“James (Yap) is now 85-90 percent healthy and his game is getting better,” Gallent said in the
aftermath of his team’s win over Talk `N Text. “I expect him to be in 100 percent shape in a few
games.”

Source:pba.ph