YAP PUMIRMA SA BLACKWATER

Hindi pa handa si Two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap na isabit ang kanyang jersey.

Sa isip ng mga tagahanga, pormal na ni Yap ang kanyang pananatili sa Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng pagpirma ng isang taong deal sa Blackwater noong Biyernes.

Si Yap, na mayroon pa ring kailangan para magkaroon ng epekto sa kabila ng pagiging 42 na noong Pebrero 15, ay pumirma sa deal sa presensya ni Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy at team manager Johnson Martines.

“I still want to play at least 10 to 15 minutes,” sabi ni Yap. “I still feel that I can play and entertain the fans. I want to reward their sacrifices, some of them were coming all the way to the province just to see me play.”

Sinabi ni Yap na ang maikling deal ay magiging isang paraan upang masukat kung hanggang saan ang kanyang magagawa sa paglalaro ng competitive basketball.

“As long as I can play, I will continue playing. This is something I love doing,” sabi ni Yap.

Sinabi ni Sy sa DAILY TRIBUNE na si Yap ay gagamitin ng kumpanya bilang kanilang chief gunner at pangunahing endorser ng kanilang mga brand.

Noong Huwebes, dumalo si Yap sa kanyang unang practice session kasama ang Bossing at ang head coach na si Jeff Cariaso, na naging bahagi ng coaching staff ni Tim Cone noong glory years ng San Mig Coffee, ay nagsabi na ang beteranong cager ay marami pang kailangang gawin.

“He’s two weeks behind, so we’ll try to slowly integrate him to our system,” sabi ni Cariaso. “Him coming in here, we made clear on both our sides what both of our goals are. I really made it a point to ask his goals from this opportunity.”

“I also shared with him my expectations. But to have a guy like him is rare and even Coach Yeng (Guiao) said that James remains valuable. We also know and understand fully where he is in his career. It depends on how he’s being used and I feel like there should be opportunities for me here to see it on him not just on the court but off the court,” dagdag niya.*