page_title: Manila Clasico
section_title: Caguioa versus Yap: the face of the PBA
hierarchical_section_title: Manila Clasico / History / Caguioa versus Yap: the face of the PBA
caption_attribution_description: Mark Caguioa of Barangay Ginebra guards James Yap of San Mig Coffee during their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series.
context_page_description: Manila Clasico refers to the rivalry between the two most popular professional basketball teams in the Philippines today, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Magnolia Hotshots, both owned by San Miguel Corporation. The former represents the Ginebra San Miguel franchise while the latter carries the San Miguel Pure Foods franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association.
context_section_description: In 1999, Jaworski left Ginebra to pursue a political career, making Purefoods’ Patrimonio the undisputed face of the league. His departure from the team that he led for so many years also resulted to the team struggling to find a new identity. Two years later, Ginebra brought in the extremely charismatic Mark Caguioa, a virtually unknown player from the rookie draft. The man who was eventually called “The Spark” caught the attention of the millions of Ginebra fans and became their new darling because of his talent, will, and passion for the game.
  Caguioa's entry also came at a time when Patrimonio was close to retirement and the league needed a new face to carry the PBA banner. Caguioa was fit and ready for that role. With Patrimonio slowing down, it was Purefoods’ turn to look for its new franchise player. In 2004, that player turned out to be James Yap, who was drafted second overall by the team in the 2004 draft. Unlike Caguioa when he entered the league, Yap was already a well-known player, being a superstar in the collegiate and amateur ranks. He also appeared to be the perfect replacement for Patrimonio – he was popular, equally good-looking, and had the wholesome persona that the Hotdogs were looking for. Yap's popularity surged even more when he tied the knot with celebrity actress Kris Aquino and found himself being adored by the masses, including the non-basketball watchers.
  For the decade, two of the most popular and most talented players in the league doubled as the franchise players of Ginebra and Purefoods, just like in the playing years of Jaworski and Patrimonio. So notable is the parallelism that after a playoff game wherein Yap made the winning basket, Coach Tim Cone of San Mig Super Coffee remarked, “In the old days it would’ve come down to Alvin Patrimonio making a big post move. But nowadays James hits a big shot... Well, I guess, Manila Clasico, it should come down to the last possession. And it did today. It came down to a James Yap three-point shot.” For San Mig Coffee Team Governor Rene Pardo, Yap is the face of the PBA, representing what Jaworski was to the pro league in the seventies and eighties, and Patrimonio in the nineties.
  So far in their respective careers, Yap has been named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice, while Caguioa has been chosen as the MVP once. Both have also been part of the Mythical Teams several times, consequently becoming competitors against each other for the top individual award. Comparison between the two players thus seems inevitable. As to who between the two should be considered as more popular, more talented, and more deserving to be called the “face of the PBA” remains a debate between the fanbases of both clubs. During games between the two teams, the pro-Ginebra crowd would boo Yap, and vice versa: the pro-San Mig Coffee crowd would also boo Caguioa, whenever either touches the ball.
  During its off-season buildup for 2016-17, the Star Hotshots traded Yap to Rain or Shine for superstar guard Paul Lee, marking the end of an era for the Purefoods franchise.
caption: Mark Caguioa of Barangay Ginebra guards James Yap of San Mig Coffee during their PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series.
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