JAMES Yap said he is still getting himself in shape as he seeks a new contract and with Rain or Shine ahead of the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Yap wants to prove to the franchise that he deserves a fresh contract after being out for eight months due to the elections.
See Guiao says turning Rain or Shine into a championship team won't happen overnight
To do so, Yap said he has been joining the team’s practices even without a contract while performing his duties as a newly-elected councilor of San Juan.
“As of now, wala pa akong kontrata,” said Yap on Tuesday. “Nandito ako para magpakundisyon muna. Mahirap naman na makipag-usap ka sa management na hindi ka ready. Nandito ako, tinitignan ko sarili ko kung saan ako. That’s the time na mag-uusap kami ng management.”
James Yap is eager to prove still has it.
“Tinatanong ako ni coach Caloy kung ready daw ba ako. [Sabi ko] nasa stage ako ngayon na nagpapakundisyon,” said Yap.
Yap said it will be up to management to decide on whether to give him the chance to play again while serving as San Juan councilor at the same time. The 40-year-old said he has already told his situation to new head coach Yeng Guiao.
“Scheduling, honestly, doon ako nahihirapan kasi hindi ko nakukumpleto ‘yung one week na practice kasi may obligasyon tayo sa San Juan. Nag-usap na kami ni coach Yeng about that. I-lay down ko ‘yung schedule ko, i-lay down ko schedule ko sa management, tignan natin kung ano comment ng management at ni coach Yeng kung okay ba sa kanila,” said Yap.
Guiao admitted he is not yet aware on the specifics of Yap’s contract situation, but is supportive of his plan.
“Actually, I’ve coached him already sa national team. We work well together. Naiintindihan ko rin ‘yung desisyon niya, konsehal siya sa San Juan. I think we have to talk about how we can put together a working schedule and how we can maximize ‘yung participation niya sa team para hindi rin mag-suffer ‘yung work naman niya as councilor of San Juan,” said Guiao, who during his time at Rain or Shine also juggled his work as vice governor and congressman of Pampanga.
Yap said he plans to balance his time as basketball player and as San Juan councilor if he gets a new deal with the Elasto Painters. The two-time MVP said he remains open to a comeback as he has been asked numerous times by his constituents on when he will come back on the court.
“Talagang tinitignan ko ‘yung schedule ko mabuti bago ako makipag-usap sa management. May mga tanong ang management kung ano ‘yung priority ko. Kaya binabalance ko talaga. Alam ko naman ‘yung aking mga mahal na kababayan sa San Juan is very supporting din dahil sila, everytime na umiikot ako, tinatanong ako lagi kung babalik ka pa ba, gusto ka pa rin naming makita sa court. Sabi ko, sige titignan ko pa dahil eight months ako nawala.
“Kailangan ko talaga i-balance ko kasi ayaw ko rin masabihan sa San Juan na hindi ko ginagampanan ‘yung trabaho ko doon,” said Yap.
While on the campaign trail, Yap said he tried his best to work out and keep himself in shape, but added being on the court is different altogether.
“Meron pa naman pero iba ‘yung weights weights lang, iba ‘yung sa court ka, pisikalan, bangaan. Nasa stage pa rin ako na feeling ko rookie ako uli,” said Yap.
If he gets the chance to play again, Yap said he looks forward to being coached Guiao, a chance he first got during his stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
Yap never played for Guiao in the PBA, even lost a championship to the veteran coach when Rain or Shine defeated B-Meg in Rain or Shine’s first crown in the league during the 2012 Governors’ Cup.
“’Yung kanyang sistema, alam ko na, may idea na ako sa sistema niya. Lahat kami sa Rain or Shine, excited. Alam naman natin na si coach Yeng, naka-dalawang championship dito sa Rain or Shine. ‘Yung dalawang champion na ‘yun, ‘yung isa doon, kalaban namin sila. Excited to work with coach Yeng again. Tignan natin,” said Yap.
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