Yap refuses to be counted out

Two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap proved that he still has some gas left in his tank.

Playing in his first tune-up game with his new team Blackwater, Yap immediately showed why signing him up was a great move after all.

“If I’m not mistaken, he hit three triples in that tune-up game against NLEX,” said Cariaso in a telephone interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE.

“We showed up with only 10 guys in that tune-up game, but James came out ready to play.”

Cariaso added that Rey Nambatac didn’t play and will officially join his first practice with the team on Monday.

But Cariaso said he is looking forward to having Yap and Nambatac, former teammates at Rain or Shine, around.

Playing in his first tune-up game with his new team Blackwater, Yap immediately showed why signing him up was a great move after all.

“The main reason why we were able to get these players is to provide us the scoring sock and that’s what they’re known for,” said Cariaso. “If they’re going to be utilized efficiently, they could give us a combined 20 points easily every game.”

“Even Coach Yeng (Guiao) admitted that James remains valuable and it would really depend on how we could use him, and in the case of Rey, who is still a young player, he’ll be able to shine offensively more.”

Nambatac was acquired by Blackwater from Rain or Shine just recently in exchange for next season’s first round pick and 50th season’s second round pick, which the Bossing obtained from TNT in previous transactions.

In the case of Yap, he believes he can still play competitively, even when he’s given 10 to 15 minutes per game.

“I believe I can still play,” said Yap. “I just want to play as long as my body tells I can play. I want to do it for the fans and I want to help Blackwater. Who knows, we could be part of something.”