MANILA – Negrense James Yap could have been one of the best players De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers had ever produced if not only for a “change of heart” that brought him to the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors instead.
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) veteran guard who plays for Rain or Shine Elasto Painters said during the 2OT podcast on May 17 that he was already doing summer drills with the Green Archers during his high school years, but everything changed heading into college.
“Na-culture shock ako sa La Salle,” said the Escalante City, Negros Occidental-native cager. “Galing akong probinsya, kaya syempre nung pagpunta ko sa La Salle, nasabi ko ‘iba pala ang mga tao dito.’”
“Nung high school pa lang ako, kapag walang pasok, lumuluwas ako sa Maynila at nakiki-training ako sa La Salle,” added the two-time PBA MVP.“Pero nagdecide ako mag UE kasi hindi na ako mahihirapang mag-adjust doon kasi nung high school ako, nakalaro ako sa (Philippine Basketball League) juniors with team Absolute ni boss Bong Tan (owner of UE also).”
Yap, 38, also mentioned that aside from DLSU and UE, other Manila-based schools who recruited him were the University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University and Far Eastern University.
Yap credited his uncle – a former cager in Cebu – for bringing him to Bacolod Tay Tung High School. It is where the Negrense sniper started his basketball career before making a name when he transferred to Hua Siong College of Iloilo.
His biggest break that time was when Hua Siong played in a preliminary game prior to the championship event of the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) between Negros and Pampanga.
“Doon nagsimula iyon. May preliminary game kami noon ng MBA finals sa Bacolod, then naka-iskor ata ako ng 40 points at nag dunk ako. After ng game na iyon, ang daming tumawag,” he said.
Yap, a seven-time PBA champion, said that he is not closing his doors on possibly coaching someday or entering politics, but he would like to focus on business first when he retires.
“Posible naman ‘yun (coaching), pero mas gusto ko muna sa business,” said Yap. “‘Yun sa pulitika naman ay hindi naman basta-basta yan. Dapat buo ang loob at desisyon ko kung papasok tayo diyan.”/PN
