The Final Score: Yap, Simon and Pingris - the big three for big games

There’s a group photo of James Yap, PJ Simon and Marc Pingris: an intimate snapshot of San Mig Coffee’s big three for big games. They’re in the dugout moments after winning the 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup. James is wearing a basketball net around his neck. Marc is holding his Finals MVP plaque. PJ is carrying the championship trophy. They’re drenched in champagne. They’re huddled so close to one another, the photographer doesn’t need to say, “Guys, compress, compress.”

James posted that photo on his Instagram account. The caption: “The Big Three!!! #governorscup #champion”

Going into game seven of the 2014 Philippine Cup semifinals against Ginebra, James was averaging 12 points per game in the series. By the end of the first half of game seven, he already doubled that output by scoring 24 points. This is why opposing coaches still assign shutdown defenders like Marcio Lassiter, Jireh Ibañes or Ryan Reyes on James. Because on a great night, he can still drain three-pointers like it’s 2006 or score over 20 like it’s 2010.

James finished game seven with 30 points, including seven three-point shots. He made a crucial three-pointer in game five. He missed a game tying three-pointer in game six. In game seven, James made sure he sank all the three-pointers that mattered.

PJ posted that same photo on his Instagram account as well. The caption: “We’ve been through a lot, and clinching this championship together makes this all the more sweeter! Thank you Lord! #Blessed #Champions #BattleScars”

Sometimes I believe PJ is San Mig Coffee’s secret alternate-go-to-guy. Because often, a two-time MVP should be the go-to-guy. PJ doesn’t have two MVPs. He doesn’t even have one. Maybe he’ll never have one. Yet in crucial games, he’ll torture opponents with a backbreaking binge of six or eight or 10 straight points. Yung sunod-sunod na big shots. Yung sorry-bro-my-hands-are-on-fire level.

PJ’s fourth quarter performance in game seven was classic Simon: relentless scoring on pull-ups and step-backs. He finished with 28 points. He probably won’t win a season MVP award but he’ll likely continue winning more postseason games for San Mig Coffee this way.

Marc posted that same photo from 2013 on his Instagram account too. The caption: “Big 3!!!!!!”

Of the three, Marc is expected to score the least. So it’s understandable that he didn’t score 30 or 28 in game seven. But he did everything else. Not just for game seven. He did everything else for the entire series. It takes unearthly drive to guard everyone on the opposing team. For some players hassle na nga yung dumepensa, period. Yet Marc, either by choice or by Coach Tim Cone’s design, played defense on guards like LA Tenorio all the way to big men like Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter.

@micohalili @Jason_Webb_Phil @barangayginebra Knakain ng buhay ni Ping ang big men ng ginebra,pwd bako mg open leter ky Wilmer Ong?#Game7

— igoy perez (@igsters) February 12, 2014

Marc is valuable for the contributions we can gauge like points, rebounds and blocks. He is even more valuable for the contributions no stat can measure. I will let a Ginebra fan encapsulate Marc’s worth. @igsters posted this tweet before game 7: “Knakain ng buhay ni Ping ang big men ng ginebra, pwd bako mag open letter ky Wilmer Ong? #Game7”

[Related: San Mig Coffee dominates Ginebra, sets up Finals series against Rain or Shine]

James, PJ and Marc haven’t won a new championship just yet. Although, clinching a heart-rate-spiking seven-game series against Ginebra must’ve felt like winning one. They have a long, long way to go. The Mixers, with little rest and even less time to prepare, are about to face Rain or Shine, the hottest team in the league, in the Finals. It’s the new challenge for three familiar faces. I look back at the photo. What do I see? I see three guys who are, once again, aiming to recapture a moment.  - AMD, GMA News