MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard James Yap is giving himself two to three more playing years before thinking of retiring from the PBA.
Yap will assess himself again after that period if he still can or wants to continue in professional basketball, he told CNN Philippines’ “Sports Desk.”
“About (sa retirement), bigyan ko pa siguro ang sarili ko ng two to three more playing years sa PBA,” said the 36-year-old Yap.
“Sakali namang mag-retire na ako e handa na ako dahil may mga investments naman ako,” the native of Escalante City, Negros Occidental added.
The two-time PBA MVP awardee denied feeling bad toward Painters head coach Carlos Garcia for giving him limited minutes compared to when he was still with Magnolia Hotshots.
“Kung ano man ang na-achieve ko sa PBA hindi ko pinasok iyon sa mind ko so hindi ako nahirapang mag-adjust as a role player sa Rain or Shine,” Yap said. “Basta ako, kailangan ready lang ako palagi, kailangan mayroon akong iko-contribute every time.”
“Hindi naman ako feeling star na dapat gamitin ako ng coach dahil ito ang mga na-achieve ko sa PBA so kung ano lang ang ibibigay sa akin, iyon lang ang tratrabahuhin ko,” he added.
In addition Yap thanked Team Philippines head coach Yeng Guiao for giving him probably his final opportunity to play for the national team in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“Actually hindi ko na ine-expect na makabalik ako sa national team dahil siyempre 36 years old na ako kaya sobrang blessed na nakabalik at siyempre kay coach Yeng sa tiwala,” Yap said.
“Kahit na medyo pagod from PBA Commissioner’s Cup, gusto ko talaga maglaro kasi first ko sa Asian Games, pero baka last na din dahil after four years pa uli,” he added. “Ito iyong isa sa hindi ko makakalimutang bahagi ng career ko habambuhay.”/PN
