In the classification round of the 2006 Philippine Cup , the Chunkee Giants finished with a 12 – 4 record . In the first round of the all-Filipino Cup , Yap recorded 34 points against the Sta. Lucia Realtors then had a career-high 37 points to beat the Barangay Ginebra Kings . Near the end of the round , he played an important role in the win against the powerhouse team Talk 'N Text . The victory put the Purefoods team in a first-place finish in the classification phase , earning them an outright semi-finals berth for the second consecutive time . After the accumulation of player statistics at the end of the semis , Yap edged out teammate Kerby Raymundo and Red Bull 's Enrico Villanueva for the Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award by recording averages of 17.60 ppg , 4.35 rpg , 1.18 apg and 1.19 steals per game ( spg ) in 36.4 mpg . This made him , at 24 years of age , the fifth youngest player , and second sophomore to have won the individual award . He was the statistical leader and garnered more than 7000 combined votes from players , the 4-man committee , and the media , almost 5000 votes ahead of the rest of the candidates . Yap was the first Purefoods player since Alvin Patrimonio to win the MVP award . He was also named to the Mythical First Team alongside teammates Raymundo and Roger Yap , and on-court rivals Enrico Villanueva and Lordy Tugade
2006 Philippine Cup
2006 PBA Philippine Cup
James Yap