MANILA – Childhood idol James Yap was an added inspiration for Rain or Shine (ROS) Elasto Painters youngsters Rey Nambatac and Javee Mocon to do good in practices and in actual games.
Nambatac and Mocon said they considered themselves fortunate to team-up with the Escalante City, Negros Occidental-native gunner, whom they said is “very friendly and accommodating.”
Nambatac, a former Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights standout, admitted that it was like a dream come true for him to be on the same team as the two-time PBA MVP awardee.
“Si manong [Yap] kasi idol ko talaga ‘yan since elementary pa ako,” Nambatac said. “And first day of practice ko (sa Rain or Shine), kinausap niya agad ako. Nabulol ako, hindi ako nakapagsalita ng maayos.”
“Sinabi niya sa akin na pagbutihin ko raw at hindi naman daw ganoon kahirap ang practice namin kasi professional na nga raw,” he recalled. “At huli niyang sinabi sa akin, iga-guide niya raw ako para madali akong makapag-adjust.”
Mocon, for his part, said that he was also an avid fan of the 38-year-old PBA veteran that he was trying to do Yap’s signature one-hander move but find it hard to emulate.
“Tinignan ko talaga at parang ang dali lang sa kanya. Pero ‘pag ginawa mo sa sarili mo na, sobrang hirap pala,” said the former San Beda Red Lion, who strikes a similar resemblance with Yap.
Yap, a seven-time PBA champion, has earlier praised both Nambatac and Mocon as among the young PBA players who he sees will have a long professional basketball career.
“Sa mga players namin, nakikita ko sina Ray at Javee na magtatagumpay sa liga,” the Negrense cager said in a previous interview with 2OT podcast./PN
