TO jumpstart the Blackwater Bossing's next campaign, team owner Dioceldo Sy is making a bid to acquire James Yap.
On Tuesday, Sy confirmed that he has already tendered an offer to the two-time PBA MVP, who he believes, at 41, is still capable of playing at a high level.
Offer in Yap's hand
“I have an offer but no news yet,” said Sy who was in an important meeting with business partners when SPIN.ph contacted him.
Sy believes that a player on the level of Yap doesn’t easily lose the talent.
“He may be ageing and a bit slow, but I can still see him better than other players pa rin. He’s on a different level and his experience can help our youngsters to be like him, or atleast close to what he can do and has achieved,” said the businessman who was behind multi-titled teams in the old PBL during the late nineties but has found success elusive in the PBA.
Playing time for Yap assured
The Blackwater big boss also revealed that his team will be willing to give Yap the playing minutes he deserves.
“He can play 15 minutes or more for us as long as kaya n'ya. And knowing how James values conditioning and keeping himself fit, I am sure he can be an asset offensively for us,” said Sy.
In Yap’s last conference with Rain or Shine, he logged averages of 5 points and 1 rebound in 9.74 minutes in three games played.
Sy believes this is what pushes him to go after Yap especially that he will fit the triangle offense of coach Jeffrey Cariaso. Yap was the anchor of BMEG’s triangle offense under coach Tim Cone in 2014.
“He fits the bill, right?” said Sy, who said he is aware of other offers for the marketable cager.
Sources bared there are three other teams who are looking to sign the pride of Escalante, Negros Occidental.
There were also teams from the Japan B.League which have expressed interest last week, but commitments as councilor of San Juan might push the soft-spoken member PBA 40 Greatest to forego the plan.
Sy also bared that he has laid down a juicy offer to Yap, which will also include an endorsement package for the Ever Bilena franchise.
But Sy stressed ‘it is just part of the package’.
“More than the fan attraction that James can give us, we would want something bigger for James,” he said.
“We would want to give James the fitting career ending he wants. We will give him playing time so his last years as a player will be more memorable to his fans. And yes, we are willing to retire his jersey with us,” said Sy.
If and when Yap agrees to sign with Blackwater, he will also be reunited with his former Purefoods teammate Marc Pingris, who is now one of the Bossing assistant coaches.
Asked if Blackwater will give both Yap and Pingris the simultaneous jersey retirement, Sy had a short reply.
“We’ll see. But that’s not a bad idea,” said the businessman.
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