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[av_heading heading=’Fresh starts for James Yap, San Miguel Beermen?’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Sunday, March 12, 2017
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AFTER failing to contribute consistently in his first conference with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, James Yap has promised to be active when they begin their title defense in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Escalante, Negros Occidental-native Yap said that he’s looking to contribute more for the Painters as he is now free from injury after being bothered by right knee problems in the Philippine Cup.
“Lahat kami naka focus sa practice and excited rin kami dahil may chance kami na makabawi,” Yap said when interviewed after Painters’ tuneup match with the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Friday that ended on 97-all score.
“Mas maganda na ‘yung pakiramdam ko ngayon kaysa nung last conference. Nagpalinis kasi ako ng right knee nung off-season. Ngayon, talagang wino-work out ko in preparation for this conference,” he added.
Yap, who was acquired from the Star Hotshots in exchange for Paul Lee late last year, has a decent 11.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game averages for the Painters in the Philippine Cup.
“Ako, hindi ko iniisip na ako yung papalit kay Paul dito. Iniisip ko kung papaano ko matutulungan ang team. Basta gagawin ko ang best ko kung ano ang pwede maitulong sa team,” Yap said.
“Kahit ano mangyari, basta binigay ko ang best ko, wala akong magiging regret. Sana ito na ‘yung time na mas makakatulong ako sa team. Isa pa rin naman ako sa bago dito kaya ‘yung focus ko, dapat andun lang parati,” Yap added.
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After recently capturing the 2016-2017 Oppo PBA Philippine Cup championship, the three-peat Philippine Cup titlist San Miguel Beermen is now gunning to dominate the Commissioner’s and Governor’s Cup as they aim for a rare Grand Slam feat.
Beermen head coach Leo Austria said that he hopes his players will not commit the same mistakes they did in the last two years when they failed to have a shot at a Grand Slam after a poor performance in the Commissioner’s Cup.
In 2015, the Beermen finished ninth in the second conference as import Ronald Roberts Jr. failed to deliver the goods with his sub-par performance, while his replacement Arizona Reid failed to lift his team despite his impressive numbers.
In 2016, the Beermen seemed to have a gem in high-scoring forward Tyler Wilkerson but was sent off during the semifinals round after having a spat with Austria. The team settled for a third place finish.
“The experiences na na-gain namin the past two years, dapat natuto na kami doon,” Austria said during the Beermen’s victory party on Friday night at the Upper Mall of the San Miguel Corporation (HOC) in Mandaluyong City.
“Actually, mas mahirap itong three-peat (Philippine Cup) kaysa sa Grand Slam kasi may momentum ka eh. It means you’re the best team locally,” added the four-time PBA champion coach.
Austria will now be pinning his hopes on Korean Basketball League (KBL) veteran Charles Rhodes to lift the Beermen in the conference where teams are allowed to tap reinforcements as tall as 6-foot-10.
After being undrafted in the 2008 NBA Rookie Draft, the 31-year-old Rhodes has played as a reinforcement overseas in Spain, Turkish Basketball League and in Korea.
In his last stint with the many-time KBL champions Ulsan Mobis Phoebus during the 2015-2016 season, the 6-foot-8 Rhodes averaged 16.8 points, eight rebounds and 1.7 assists in 28.3 minutes of play.
“If he plays that way here (they way he plays in Korea), then we will have a double threat on the post with him (Rhodes) and June Mar (Fajardo),” said Austria. “Also, we can rest June Mar more.”/PN
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