Yap, Miller lead ‘best player’ race

Will it be James Yap of Purefoods or Willie Miller of Alaska? The former national team backcourt partners are again locked in a tight and exciting race for the Best Player of the Conference in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup, a development that is expected to add to their ongoing final series.

Interestingly, the coveted award will be given in Game 4 with the Giants going for a ‘dream sweep’ of their best-of-seven series.

Though Miller is ahead of Yap in the statistical points category, the Purefoods’ top gunner has provided leadership and consistent scoring for his team and is the big reason why the Giants are leading 3-0 in their series.

Yap has been doing great for the team since their classic quarterfinal duel with Rain or Shine where the former MVP averaged 21.4 points.

The 5-foot-11 Miller actually finished tied for third with Alaska teammate, forward Joe Devance, at the end of semifinals with similar 31.0 Statistical Points (SP).

Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams, the MVP two years ago, emerged the topnotcher with 40.6 followed by San Miguel’s Arwind Santos (35.4).

William’s bid, however, was scuttled when the Realtors lost to the Elasto Painters in the knockout wildcard.

The same thing befell on Santos as the Beermen, despite gaining outright semis berth, were beaten by the Giants in the Final Four.

The 6-foot-2 Yap, on the other hand, climbed steadily since their quarterfinal win over Rain or Shine.

From No. 12, Yap moved up to No. 8 with 27.6 SP.

In the first three games of the series, Yap averaged 23.3 points, which included a 32-point explosion in an 86-85 victory in Game 2, while Miller normed 18.3 points.

Miller, a two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), is out to repeat his feat last year, and if successful, it will be his third BPC award.

Yap, on the other hand, is eyeing only his first trophy given to the top individual player every conference despite having won the MVP in 2005-06.

The two played together for the PBA-backed Powerade-Team Pilipinas in the previous FIBA-Asia Championship in Tianjin, China.

Others in the Top 10 were Talk ’N Text guard Mark Cardona (No. 5, 30.7), Alaska’s LA Tenorio (No. 6, 29.8), Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood (No. 7, 29.0),TNT’s Harvey Carey (No. 9, 27.5), and Ginebra’s Ronald Tubid (No. 10, 27.2).

Source: Waylon Galvez  | Manila Bulletin