James Yap still has some juice in his game, but now he has a new mission in the PBA.
Moments after the Blackwater Bossing held on for a 96-93 win over the favored Meralco Bolts in the opening game of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Bossing coach Jeffrey Cariaso was asked about the impact his new player — some guy named James Yap — had on his young team.
“Mine is a quick answer,” Cariaso said. “Every day at practice, before James came, we had no one watching practice. The minute na dumating si James, ang daming taong nanonood ng practice namin, wanting to watch and waiting to come inside.
“That’s my simple explanation of the impact that James has. He has something left to give, so we’re looking forward to that.”
Such is the impact that Big Game James, a two-time MVP and one of the most popular players in PBA history, can have on any team. Even though he just celebrated his 42nd birthday, Yap signed on for another conference with a new team, and while his game stats were ordinary – 5 points in just 12 minutes of play – his mere presence on the court of Ynares Center in Antipolo was enough to inspire fans and teammates alike.
“Sobrang laking motivation iyon,” said teammate Rey Nambatac. “Especially ako, childhood idol ko si James. Isa siya sa naging factor kung bakit ako na-in love sa basketball. Good thing magkasama ulit kami, this time sa Blackwater.”
Yap’s biggest play was a stepback triple, one of his many signature moves, in the fourth quarter that helped give Blackwater some momentum. The basket elicited roars of approval from the crowd, which his former teammates Marc Pingris and Paul Artadi.
“We all know James Yap. Big Game James Yap, ‘ika nga, ang tawag natin sa kanya. Para sa akin, age is just a number. Kita niyo naman kanina, pag open siya, mayroon siyang na-hit na three-point shot kanina na ako ang pumasa. All he needs is just playing time para lumabas ang laro niya. And I think Blackwater, ito ang fit na team para sa kanya.”
Yap himself was surprised to see his two buddies watching in the stands.
“Nagkita kami ng two, three days ago,” he said. “Akala ko nagjo-joke lang sila. Talagang seryoso sila na manonood sila. Actually, si Paul talaga iyong nangungulit kanina. ‘Saan na iyong ticket namin?’
“Nakakatuwa dahil iyong mga old teammates mo na kahit wala na sa basketball, nandoon pa rin sumusuporta.”
Yap’s last stint, with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Commissioner’s Cup, wasn’t exactly memorable. He played in just three games, averaging only 5.2 points in around 10 minutes of playing time.
In between conferences, he said his goodbyes to the team and made the move to the Bossing, who were coming off their own miserable Commissioner’s Cup where they lost their last 10 games.
Although he knows his best days are behind him, Yap is in remarkable shape for a 42-year-old in his 20th season as a professional ballplayer.
“Nasa stage na nag-aadjust ka, kasi matagal na tayong hindi nakakalaro ng ganoon katagal. Pero at least, iyong katawan mo is healthy at walang injuries. Always ready and alam mo na iyong minute mo dito sa Blackwater, mayroon. Alam mo na makakalaro ka.
“Ang akin lang is makalaro lang every game. Hindi naman ako humahangad ng long minutes talaga. Basta, diskarte na niya (Cariaso) iyan. Ako, ready ako makatulong sa team, at mag guide sa mga bata. So far, Buena mano. Nakakuha ng panalo. Ang sarap ng feeling.”
There were other teams interested in Yap after he left Rain or Shine, but he chose Blackwater in part because of his familiarity with Cariaso.
“Si Coach Jeff, nakasama ko sa Purefoods nung assistant coach siya so hindi ganoon kahirap mag-adjust. Open kaming dalawa. Ang sabi ko, ‘Kung ano ang sistema mo, susunod ako.’
“Okay naman ang management, very warm welcome sa akin, lalo na si boss Dioceldo Sy.”
James Yap’s main motivation, though, for joining a franchise that hasn’t sniffed a single semifinal stint in its 10-year PBA existence is precisely to help the team break that stretch of futility.
“Basta keep on fighting, work hard. Iyon naman talaga ang importante sa PBA. Kailangan we need to play as a team. Hindi kanya-kanya. May goal kami, which is makapasok sa next round.
“Magkakaroon ka ng reputation pag sa semis o sa finals ka. So iyon ang mga ina-apply ko sa mga bata na itong elimination, kailangan pagtulungan ito para makapasok sa next round.
“Kung gusto mong gumawa ng name, doon ka gumawa ng name kasi doon nakatutok lahat ng tao, nanonood ang mga tao. Makikilala ang player pag pumasok sa semis. Makikilala ang team pag nakapasok sa semis o sa finals.
“Rerespetuhin ka ng mga baing teams at mga tao kung makapasok ka sa semis. So iyon ang goal namin.”
Banner image from PBA Media Bureau.
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