James Yap excited for new beginnings at Blackwater

For only the second time in his professional career, James Yap is playing for a new team.

The 42-year-old veteran came off the bench and poured in five points and a rebound in almost 13 minutes of action in his debut for Blackwater as the Bossing survived a fourth quarter onslaught from Meralco to run away with a narrow 96-93 victory.

Yap said he is ecstatic for a career reboot with the Bossing — his third squad after playing for 12 years for the Magnolia franchise and for eight years with Rain or Shine.

"Well ‘yung feeling ko [ay] excited, bagong team at bagong number so thank you sa mga bagong teammates ko and talagang ‘yung suporta nila nandiyan," Yap said.

(The feeling is excited. It's a new team and a new jersey number. I am thankful to my teammates because they are very supportive.)

Yap, though, is aware he will not get as many minutes at Blackwater as he used to get during his heydays. 

The Bossing currently feature a youthful roster led by newly-traded Rey Nambatac, Tyrus Hill, Rey Suerte, Troy Rosario, Richard Escoto, Clifford Jopia, and James Kweuteye.

However, the 6-foot-2 guard vowed he'll always be ready whenever his name gets called by head coach Jeff Cariaso, who was with him when the San Mig Coffee Mixers (now Magnolia) completed a rare Grand Slam feat in 2014.

"Open ako sa kaniya kasi nakasama ko si Coach Jeff sa Purefoods, siya ‘yung assistant coach and magkasama kami nu’ng nag-Grand Slam kami so ‘yung samahan nando’n and player din [siya dati] so nakakaintindi siya," Yap added.

"Sabi ko ready lang ako lagi so in-assure naman niya na gagamitin niya ako and sabi ko hindi naman ako nagde-demand ng long minutes eh, 40 minutes hindi naman, basta palaruin mo lang ako."

(I am open with him since I was with Coach Jeff in Purefoods. He was the assistant coach and we were together during the Grand Slam so the bond is there and he was a former player as well. I told him I am always ready so he assured me that he will tap me and I told him I won't demand long minutes as long as he will let me play.)

Regardless of his minutes on the court, Yap said he is always playing for the fans as he looks to help Blackwater reach the semifinals for the first time in franchise history.

"Kasi ‘yun naman talaga nasa isip ko at goal ko na every time na maglalaro ako, kailangan para sa fans. Bigyan natin ng kaligayahan ‘yung mga fans, ‘yun ang laging nasa mindset ko," Yap said.

"‘Yun ‘yung gusto kong ipaintindi sa mga bata, kailangan we need to play as a team kasi elimination ibang-iba ‘yan eh, makakalimutan ng mga tao ‘yan eh. Pero ‘pag pumapasok ka ng semis, ng finals doon nakatutok ‘yung mga tao."

(In my mind and my goal is that every time I play, this is for the fans. Let's give them joy, that's my mindset. That is also what I want to tell the kids, that we need to play as a team since the elimination round is different, the people may forget it. But in the semis to the finals, they will really watch.)

—JKC, GMA Integrated News