FOCUSED & READY
It was 2004. James Yap was still a wide-eyed pro rookie from the University of the East and raring to strut his stuff in the PBA.
With two dribbles, he soared to the basket and slammed the ball for his first pair of points in the pro league.
Thirteen years after, and Yap, now a two-time MVP and one of the most recognizable faces in Philippine basketball, was able to recreate that special moment on Friday.
At the 9:10 mark of the third quarter, Yap received the ball from Marqus Blakely and had an open lane to himself. With one dribble, he went up and dunked the ball.
“Grabe. Ang tagal na nasundan no?,” Yap quipped.
Scoring 15 points, Yap was one of the vital cogs in Star’s season-saving victory over GlobalPort, mauling the Batang Pier, 126-73.
Playing with a twice-to-win disadvantage, the Hotshots forced a winner-take-all affair on Sunday for the right to face Alaska in the semifinals.
It was the strong showing the team badly needed on the way to defending the Governors’ Cup.
“Do-or-die sa amin eh, so kailangan talaga right from the start, magbigay ka ng statement na nandito kami at ready kami,” Yap said.
The slam dunk was definitely a big exclamation point in that show of force for Star. But there are people who believed that Yap travelled in that attempt.
But the 33-year-old just laughed it off.
“Nag-travel ba ako? Pagbigyan na lang siguro. Hayaan nyo na. Nandun na eh,” he said.
Come Sunday, the acknowledged heart and soul of the Star ballclub expects the Hotshots to be just as focused and ready. (RL)
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