James Yap, as expected , was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2010 PBA Leo Awards Night at the Araneta Coliseum for an outstanding season that somehow seemed to compensate for troubles in his personal life with estranged celebrity wife Kris Aquino.
It was Yap’s second MVP accolade in the last five years, making him the eight player in pro league history to win the coveted award more than once. The leading winners were Mon “El Presidente” Fernandez and “The Captain” Alvin Patrimonio who is manager of Yap’s squad with four apiece while Benjie Paras with two also has the rare distinction of being the only “Rookie of the Year” to win the MVP award in the same year.
Yap, speaking in Filipino said, “I can’t fully express how happy I am. It’s heartening to get this amid what’s I’m going through personally right now. I’m grateful to those who believed in me. To those who voted for me, thanks for your trust and confidence.”
In an emotional tpuch Yap dedicated his latest MVP feat to his son Baby James whom he acknowledged “as the most important person in my life. He’s my biggest inspiration. I haven’t seen him for a long while now. I miss him,” following reports that his wife doesn’t allow him to see their son.
Alaska’s LA Tenorio and Sonny Thoss and San Miguel’s Jay Washington and Arwind Santos joined the MVP winner in the First Mythical Team while Rico Maierhofer emerged as the Rookie of the Year, Tenorio also bagged the Most Improved Player award while Cyrus Baguio won the Sportsmanship Award.
Composing the All-Defensive Team were Santos, Roger Yap, Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris and Ryan Reyes.
Yap, the Derby Ace main man who averaged 18 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in the season, was the runaway winner in the MVP derby, amassing 2577 points as against Tenorio’s 1539 and Washington’s 756.
For the 28-year-old Negrense, it was a fitting ending to a great season that had him leading his team to the Philippine Cup title conquest and semis finish in the Fiesta Conference.
He earlier bagged the Best Player of the Conference plum and Finals MVP trophy in the all-Filipino tourney.
Former PBA board chair Lito Alvarez, now a member of President Aquino’s Cabinet as Bureau of Customs commissioner, was the guest of honor in the ceremonies where he was given a special tribute.
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