James Yap retires jersey No. 18
JAMES Yap is retiring his iconic jersey No. 18, just a day before he officially signed a new one-year deal with his new team Blackwater on Friday, February 9.
The two-time league Most Valuable Player announced his “farewell 18” while subsequently announcing his switch to No. 15 as he became a member of the Bossing squad under coach Jeffrey Cariaso.
“Farewell Eighteen … the jersey number I’ve always had since I started playing serious basketball … from Hua Siong College Iloilo, to UE, to PBL, and then PBA. I guess it’s safe to say that this number will always be a part of me, my career, my whole life,” Yap wrote in his official Facebook account on Thursday.
“Thank you God for the privilege, the blessings, the awards, and championships I got, while carrying this number. Grateful ako sa lahat ng hirap at lahat ng saya na dumating sa buhay ko, habang bitbit ko ang number na ‘to.”
Yap, who turns 42 this February 15, hopes basketball fans will continue to support him even as he begins a new PBA journey with Blackwater, his third team in his storied professional cage career.
“As I move into a new team, a number will be given to me. Thank you and goodbye number 18, that was a meaningful and unforgettable run,” shared the pride of Escalante, Negros Occidental. “Say hello to your new Bossing, James Yap, number 15.”
On Friday, Yap inked a fresh, one-year pact with Blackwater, a move that happened just less than two weeks after getting his release from Rain or Shine, the franchise he has been with for more than seven years or since he engaged in a one-on-one swap with Paul Lee in October 2016.
“I’m very happy, excited and honored to have a future Hall of Famer in James Yap at Blackwater,” said Bossing team owner Dioceldo Sy, who on Friday, welcomed the 6-foot-2 Yap, along with team manager Johnson Martinez in the official contract signing at Saikou in San Juan.
The Bossing is a team in transition under Cariaso, whose first conference as head coach was bumpy and ugly after finishing the Commissioner’s Cup with 10 straight losses. The team only had one victory on its ledger, courtesy of Cariaso’s debut win as Blackwater’s coach, via a 103-84 triumph over Converge on November 8.
Yap’s game and playing time has declined over the past few years since he last averaged in double figures of 11.4 points during the 2019 PBA season when Rain or Shine was still being handled by coach Caloy Garcia.