There’s a saying that in every great player, there will be some great games left in them.
For James Yap, who is among the greatest players ever to see action in the Philippine Basketball Association, his inclusion in the Blackwater roster will gauge whether he can go the extra mile or just simply play his final season.
There’s no question that Yap is already at the twilight of his career as he will be turning 42 years old four days from now.
Yet, he is embarking on a new chapter so he decided to use jersey No. 15 instead of asking Troy Rosario to give him his iconic No. 18, where he had a lot of success in his long and storied PBA career.
This new chapter is about to begin, but how many pages will be written depends on how well Yap will perform in the coming Philippine Cup.
Last conference, he was barely utilized and it’s quite understandable considering the new philosophy of Rain or Shine of banking more on its young core.
Under this new system, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao had embraced a fast-paced system similar to what Mike D’Atoni ran with the Phoenix Suns that made it very challenging for an old guard like Yap to comply.
At Blackwater, Yap is likely to play a special role. And for a team that is in quest of a franchise player, the Bossing had certainly found one — at least for this season — with the two-time Most Valuable Player on board.
How Yap will be utilized is also important.
No, don’t expect him to play 35 to 40 minutes like he used to do. A playing time of around 10 to 15 minutes will be enough to help his younger teammates gain confidence and make a run for their first playoff appearance.
But one thing is for sure, with Yap, the Bossing will finally have a closer, a player who has the confidence to take charge in the crucial stretch, something that the veteran gunner had shown time and time again.
Yap can still be a threat and any defender would tell you that you still need to guard him or he will easily shoot that basketball in front of your face.
A seven-time PBA champion, Yap isn’t your ordinary great player.
He used to be the crown jewel of the old Purefoods franchise, where he won all his championships, including the grand slam in 2014. It is where he was able to establish himself as one of the game’s all-time best.
More than that, he has been the face of the PBA for a long time, inheriting the crown previously worn by four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio.
He has been a fan-favorite throughout his PBA career so it will not be surprising if fans would still come to watch him play.
With that level of commitment, expect Yap to go all out and push himself to the limit not just to lead Blackwater to the title but also to provide entertainment to his loyal supporters.
Truly, Yap couldn’t wait for the new chapter to unfold.
