Rain or Shine is set to give two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap a fitting tribute by retiring the jersey No. 18 that he used during his stay with the franchise.
No less than Rain or Shine team owner Raymond Yu made the confirmation to Daily Tribune, saying that the jersey retirement is already set after Yap decided not to renew with them following the Commissioner’s Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.
“That’s the plan,” Yu said in a text message.
Although Yu didn’t give any specific details about the looming retirement ceremony, the gesture is a symbol of expressing gratitude to Yap’s contributions, not only to the franchise, but to Philippine basketball in general.
Yap played for Rain or Shine in the Philippine Basketball League and helped it win a championship.
The former University of the East standout was drafted by Purefoods in the first round of the 2004 PBA Rookie Draft and since then became the successor of four-time league MVP Alvin Patrimonio as the face of the franchise.
In 2016, Yap returned to the Elasto Painters camp in a one-on-one trade with Paul Lee and became an integral piece of the squad.
