NOW that James Yap is a Blackwater Bossing, is a reunion with longtime San Mig Coffee Mixers (Magnolia) teammate and fellow grand slam winner Marc Pingris coming soon?
Sadly, it will have to wait at least until 2025 or it will never really happen.
It will be recalled that the former Magnolia star and Gilas Pilipinas mainstay was courted by Blackwater to be one of the assistant coaches of the Bossing last October.
READ Why James Yap declined Troy offer to let him have No. 18 jersey
But his assistant coaching stint was put on hold after Pingris was convinced by his PBA Motoclub teammates to join them at the Binan Tatak Gel team in the ongoing Pilipinas Super League (PSL) season.
“Sayang. Kasi naglalaro na ko dito sa Binan nung pumirma sa Blackwater si James,” said Pingris in an interview with Spin.ph.
The outspoken Pozorrubio, Pangasinan pride also shared his conversation with his longtime teammate shortly after Yap joined Blackwater’s practice for the first time Thursday.
“Tumawag sa kin yan (Yap). Sabi nya, ‘Pre, andito na ko. Halika na.’ Kaya sabi ko, ‘Wala sayang, nakapirma ako ng two years dito sa Binan,” said Pingris who is joined by former PBA MVP Jayjay Helterbrand, Rico Maierhofer, KG Canaelta and Carlo Lastimosa in the PSL.
The short phone call was enough for Pingris to rib his good friend.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Paano ako pupunta dyan, kinuha mo na number ko,” he said, referring to Yap’s new jersey No. 15 - the number that’s been associated with Pingris in the Magnolia franchise.
The 42-year-old nine-time PBA champion, meanwhile, stressed that in his old power forward position, he may already struggle coping with the youngsters in the PBA.
“Mahihirapan na ako dun. Ang tagal ko na rin naka-retire. four years na,” he said.
“Actually, kaya ko pa naman kung sa kaya, kaso kung pababanatyin ako ng maliit gaya ng dati, mahihirapan na ko. Kung big man babantayan, kaya ko pa,” added the 3-time PBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Pingris, however, is positive that Yap has still more gas left in his tank as the sweet-shooting guard never waned in his fitness program.
In fact, Pingris won’t be surprised if Yap can still regularly tally double digit scores for Blackwater.
“James Yap is still James Yap. Kahit 42 na yun, maalaga sa katawan yun. Saka syempre may experience yun. Di man nya madaan sa bilis, dadanin nun sa gulang at experience,” said the 15-time PBA All Star.
Asked if he will decide to don the Blackwater jersey after his contract at Binan expires, Pingris gave a funny reply.
“PBA legends ba laban? Pag legends game, sige game ako,” he said in between laughs.
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