MANILA – Two-time PBA MVP James Carlos Yap is still unsure about his return to the professional basketball.
According to the Escalante City, Negros Occidental native guard, there are no PBA teams still approaching him but his playing right remains with his former team, the Blackwater Bossing.
“Tignan natin. So far wala pa akong (commitment). Free (agent) ako, pero ‘yung rights ko nasa Blackwater,” Yap said in an interview with Sports Now.
The 43-year-old Yap averaged 3.7 points and shot 5-of-14 from three-point range during his six-game appearance with the Bossing in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.
The former University of the East Red Warriors star has been with the PBA since 2004, when he was selected second overall by the Purefoods (now Magnolia Hotshots).
Yap stayed with the Purefoods franchise for 12 years where he won seven PBA championships, two PBA MVP awards, four PBA Finals MVP awards and one Best Player of the Conference trophy.
He was then suddenly moved by Purefoods to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in 2016 in a blockbuster trade for Paul Lee. He stayed with the Painters until 2023 before he opted to move to the Bossing.
Meanwhile, Yap also believe that securing a PBA championship holds more prestige than winning a school title — especially with the added financial incentives.
“Siyempre iba pa din sa PBA kasi may kasamang bonus,” Yap said with a laugh after leading the Lamtex Pipes-Hua Siong to championship in a 40-up tournament recently.
“Iba rin kasi kapag-pride ng school ang pinag-uusapan,” he added. “Kakaiba kasi siyempre dito ka nag-start eh, sa Hua Siong. ‘Yung first time ko mag-champion, hindi ko makakalimutan ‘yun.”/PN
