James Yap excited for new beginnings at Blackwater

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.”

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.)