Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
James Yap admitted he felt awkward playing against his former team Star for the first time on Sunday.
“Nakakapanibago, pero ganoon talaga,” he said.
Unfortunately for Yap, the Elasto Painters ended up on the losing end as the Hotshots escaped with a 99-91 win.
“Excited ako for this game kaso talo kami. Pero ganoon talaga ang laro, may mananalo, may matatalo. Bawi na lang next game,” he said.
Though never failing to show his desire to get the win, Yap struggled on the field, missing point blank attempts as he went 3-of-10 from the field to finish with nine points, five rebounds, and two assists.
Not helping was Peter June Simon shadowing him on defense, as his longtime teammate got the better of him.
Yap lauds Simon for the tremendous job he did on defense, saying, “PJ is PJ. Magaling talaga sya. Nagdo-double team sila for me kaya yung mga tinira ko, kaunti lang. Naka-focus rin yung defense nila sa akin. Once na nakaposte ako, dino-double nila ako kaya pinapasa ko yung bola ko sa mga big men namin. In short, gusto nilang alisin yung bola sa akin. Maganda yung gameplan nila.”
Yap also was man enough to say that his former team was the better squad on Sunday, with the Star shooters making life difficult for Rain or Shine.
“Maganda lang yung laro nila talaga. Kumbaga, they moved the ball very well kaya nahirapan din kami depensahan. Marami rin silang shooters at yun ang nag-dictate dun sa laro.”
With the game already over and done with, Yap could only smile as the Star fans cheered him with “Thank You, James” chants.
“Thank you rin sa kanila. Naging mabait naman tayo sa kanila. Wala naman silang masasabi sa akin. Very accommodating naman ako sa kanila, from picture taking to fan signs kaya siguro hanggang ngayon mahal nila ako,” he said, as he didn’t fail to express his gratitude for all the years he has spent with the Purefoods franchise.
But now, he embarks to the newest chapter of his career with the Elasto Painters, saying, “I’m sure marami namang nasiyahan sa game. Ito rin naman ‘yung game na hinihintay ng lahat. Kaya sa lahat ng fans, sa Star, sa Rain or Shine, I hope na nag-enjoy sila. Ganoon talaga ang laro.”