B-Meg Derby Ace superstar James Yap holds aloft during the Leo Awards his second Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy after ruling the roost in the PBA Fiesta Cup. (Photo by TONY PIONILLA)

B-Meg Derby Ace star James Yap emerged from the trouble of his celebrated marital woes to triumph for the second time, winning the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum during the 2010 PBA Leo Annual Awards Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Despite all the heartaches and headaches he encountered the past couple of months – the biggest of which was the breakdown of his marriage to controversial Presidential sister, TV host Kris Aquino – Yap still delivered one explosive game after another to win the highest individual award – a testament to his steely determination.

The 6-foot-3 Yap received a total of 2,577 points from the combined statistics (362), and votes from media (1,300), players (15), Solar Sports (600) and the Commissioner’s Office (300), to beat Alaska’s LA Tenorio of Alaska (1,539) and San Miguel Beer’s Jay Washington (756).

Yap won his first MVP during his second year in the league – 2005-06.

Yap, 28, helped Purefoods win the Philippine Cup where he also bagged the Finals MVP as well as the Best Player of the Conference. His team battled SMB in the semifinals but came short of moving to the Finals in the Fiesta Cup.

Yap admitted he’s trying hard to weather off the marital storm he's facing but he’s glad his perseverance and hardships in the hardcourt paid off this year.

His second MVP trophy, he said, is the sweetest considering the problem he's facing right now.

“Alam naman ng lahat kung ano ang pinagdaanan ko sa buhay, ’di naman natin maitatago kung ano nangyayari,” Yap, who dedicated the award to his son, Baby James, said. “Proud ako sa sarili ko, sa lahat ng bagyong dumating nakapag-perform parin ako ng mabuti.”