ALLAN THE MAN

The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers rallied past the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters for a 99-91 victory in Game Four to win the PLDT Home TVolution Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday at PhilSports Arena.

The Mixers won the third jewel in the PBA’s triple crown and moved one more tournament away from winning the league’s coveted Grand Slam.

But the San Mig Coffee had to go through the eye of the needle against a proud Tropang Texters side determined to go down fighting.

In the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs have the veteran Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.

The PBA’s San Mig Super Coffee Mixers also have their own veteran Big Three with James Yap, Marc Pingris, and Peter June Simon.

San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone made the connection himself when trying to explain why he makes sure to give his veteran stars ample rest amid their heated PLDT Home TVolution Commissioner’s Cup series against Talk ‘N Text.

“I’m trying to keep those three guys — Yap, Marc Pingris and PJ Simon — like, if I may, like Duncan, Ginobili and Parker,” said Cone.

James Yap shrugged off talks that he and his Italian girlfriend are already planning to tie the knot in the near future.

In an interview with “Buzz ng Bayan” aired on Sunday, Yap said it is important for them to really get to know each other first before jumping into another life-long commitment.

“Wala pa. Basta ang mahalaga is masaya kami. Ang importante is kailangan talaga kilalanin ang isa’t isa para maging smooth ang relationship niyo,” he said.

The mystery girl who captured the heart of basketball superstar James Yap has finally come out in the open.

Michaella Cazzola, the beautiful and charming lass from Florence, Italy, quietly slipped into the country over the weekend to watch his boyfriend play in the PBA Governors Cup Finals.

SAN Mig Coffee star James Yap has vowed not to let Alaska rookie Calvin Abueva get on his nerves, hours before the two teams renew their rivalry in the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals.

Yap and Abueva have had much publicized skirmishes in the past, the last in the Commissioner's Cup semifinals that degenerated into a war of words and dragged Yap's teammate Marc Pingris into the fray.

Don't be surprised if you see ‘provocative’ pictures of James Yap in your favorite malls in the next few weeks.

Yap, Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and De La Salle volleyball star Michele Gumabao have been tapped to display their well-chiseled bodies as models of a bold ad campaign by top sports apparel store Toby's.

LIKE most of us, James Yap is excited to see the Philippines play once again in the world basketball championships.

But that does not mean the 31-year-old pride of Escalante, Negros Occidental pride is longing to play for the Gilas Pilipinas team bound for Spain next year, even if an offer will be on hand.

On Tuesday, the Alaska Aces and the San Mig Coffee Mixers will meet for the first time since their Commissioner’s Cup semifinals duel last April.

This means that San Mig Coffee swingman James Yap and Alaska rookie Calvin Abueva will once gain renew their rivalry, which got heated during their series last conference.

As the leader of the San Mig Coffee Mixers, James Yap stepped up on the defensive end with two of his team’s top players missing. He shut down Mark Caguioa, hounding the Barangay Ginebra superstar to 0-of-11 shooting from the field.