Star Forward Marc Pingris. TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net
Returning to practice after a much deserved vacation in Japan, Marc Pingris admits that he truly missed seeing James Yap in Star’s training on Monday.
“Parang di kami sanay na wala si James. Mahirap kasi nakasanayan namin na nandito sya,” he said.
Yap, the two-time league Most Valuable Player who has also been helmed as the face of the franchise for the past decade, was traded for Paul Lee last Thursday in a blockbuster deal that shook the PBA landscape.
Pingris couldn’t hide his sadness as he took the court without his longtime teammate, someone who he and Peter June Simon won seven titles together under the Purefoods banner.
“Iba yung samahan namin dito eh. Nangako kami sa isa’t isa na dito na (sa Star) magre-retire eh, pero ganoon talaga ang buhay ng player. Di namin hawak yan, hawak na ng management yan,” he said.
“Masakit para sa amin na malakalaban namin si James sa ibang team, pero sama-sama pa rin naman kami sa labas. Yun ang importante sa amin, magkikita pa rin kami. Nakakalungkot lang na di na namin sya kasama.”
But Pingris knows that sooner or later, he and the rest of Yap’s fans can move on from this tough situation, likening the trade to a heartbreak.
“Parang nakipagbreak ka lang sa girlfriend na mahal na mahal mo. Nasaktan ka, umiyak ka, pero lilipas rin yun at makakahanap ka rin ng bagong girlfriend. Ganoon lang yung sitwasyon. May plano ang Diyos para sa iyo,” he said.
And there’s no doubt in Pingris’ mind that Yap can rejuvenate his career with this new start in Rain or Shine.
“Kilala naman natin pag kundisyon si James eh. Sabi nya naman sa akin, babalik sya at magpapakundisyon. Yun ang unang sinabi nya sa akin and I’m happy na may plano sya para sa sarili nya,” he said.