THOUGH he’s been away from Magnolia Hotshots franchise for nearly a decade now, James Yap remains the face of the team.
So said former teammate Marc Pingris as he emphasized the indelible mark that Yap has left in a franchise where he won two season MVP awards, four Finals MVP trophies and seven PBA championships including the grand slam in 2014.
The outspoken former Magnolia star power forward stressed that this Magnolia team, the second most popular in the country after Barangay Ginebra, is to this day identified by the charisma and star power that Yap brought to the team.
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“Yung Purefoods franchise, James Yap pa rin 'yan. Siya ang mukha ng Purefoods nun - hanggang ngayon. Not Marc Pingris, not Kerby Raymundo. Si James Yap ang face ng Purefoods,” said Pingris in an interview with the No Cooking Show podcast.
“Tignan mo ha, kahit saan naglalaro si James Yap ngayon, pag sinabi mong James Yap, San Mig Coffee o Purefoods pa rin. Hindi Rain or Shine, hindi Blackwater. Kahit i-search mo siya sa Google, lalabas pa rin yung time n'ya sa Purefoods,” he added.
“Si James Yap talaga ang naging next na mukha ng Purefoods nung nag-retire sila Alvin Patrimonio, how many years siya ang humawak nyan.”
Asked if there is already a new icon among the new breed of Magnolia players like Paul Lee, Calvin Abueva and Zavier Lucero, Pingris shook his head.
“Hindi rin. Malayo. Sorry mga guys ha, I love you all pero wala (sa inyo ang pumalit kay Yap),” he said. “Iba ang pangalan ng James Yap sa Purefoods dati. Kahit saan kami magpunta, nadala nya ang pangalan ng Purefoods dati.
“Wala pa ring pumapalit sa kanya. Mula nung mag-grand slam kami, wala pang pumapalit at wala pa kong nakikitang pumapalit sa mukha ni James Yap sa Purefoods ngayon. Bigyan mo ko ng mga player ngayon na itatapat mo sa kanya, sino?” said Pingris.
So lasting was the impact of Yap to the Magnolia franchise that Pingris believes, people are still looking for him in the team - nine years since he was traded to Rain or Shine for Paul Lee.
“Sorry sa mga magagalit, pero sasabihin ko to. Mukha pa rin nya ang hinahanap sa team (aminin natin yan). Kahit sinong rookie ang magaling ngayon (ng Purefoods), dalhin mo sa mall yan, James Yap pa rin (ang hahanapin ng fans),” he said.
“Yung impact nya sa PBA talagang ibang-iba,” he added while referring to Yap’s tag, before coined by former commissioner Chito Salud, as 'The Face of the PBA.'
So identified was Yap to the Magnolia franchise that Pingris believes that even at his age, he can still draw fans to the team, if and when the Hotshots management decide to bring him back.
“Pabalikin mo sa Purefoods yan, tignan mo mas dadami ang fans ng Purefoods ngayon. Try mo,” Pingris, expressing his hope that Yap will be given the chance to retire in his former home with his jersey officially retired.
'Retire James Yap's jersey'
“Dapat i-retire ang jersey ni James Yap sa Purefoods. Deserve nya yun eh. Dahil natulungan nya yung company, yung company natulungan din siya,” ‘Sakuragi’ added.
Asked how he reacted when Yap was traded, Pingris did not mince a word.
“Sumama ang loob ko, malaking question sa amin, bakit? Kaso ganyan ang player eh, hind mo alam kung hanggang kailan ka maglalaro sa isang team, gano ka tatagal, kelan ka aalisin?” he said.
“Pagna-trade ka, masakit yun lalo alam ko lagi sinasabi ni James noon na sa Purefoods n'ya gustong mag-retire, kaso hindi nangyari,” he said.
“Hindi mo maaalis ang legacy ni James sa Purefoods dahil nung time naming kahit saan kami magpunta, siya ang unang nilalapitan ng tao, mabait din kasi siya sa mga fans eh. Dati kahit saan kami magpunta, dumog talaga si James Yap.’
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