Star Hotshots James Yap Traded to ROS in Exchange for Paul Lee

PBA – The biggest news today in Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) asides from the Governor’s Cup Finals match between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Meralco Bolts is the blockbuster trade between James Yap and Paul Lee. 

The news broke yesterday and the fans of both side have mixed reactions? Who ever thought that James Yap in his latter part of his career would be traded for another team! Who I personally thought also he will be a Purefoods player until his playing time is over?


While for Paul Lee, a franchise player will have to start again in his new team who i thought also the future of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painter and now will have the chance to become the new star player of the Hotshots.

James Yap Career

James Yap has been the franchise player of the San Miguel Purefoods Company since he was drafted by Purefoods in 2004 and the departure of four time MVP Alvin Patrimonio. Aside from Alvin Patrimonio, Yap is the only player in the franchise history to won multiple MVP awards where he won in 2006 and 2010.

After 12 years of playing in PBA James Yap won seven PBA Titles in Purefoods uniform including the most elusive Grand Slam Champion in 2014 under the team name San Mig Super Coffee Mixers. Together with their grand slam coach Tim Cone, Yap and long-time team mate Peter June Simon and Marc Pingris help the team in four straight championship.

James departure with the Hotshots has been always a rumor since his playing time has been limited this season. It’s just a matter of time of who or when a trade will happen.

Good luck for James Yap and his new team and also for Paul Lee in Hotshots. It was unbelievable trade but that’s life you’ll never know till it hit you!