James Yap feels 'like a rookie' again in return to Rain or Shine

For James Yap, returning to the PBA after his short hiatus is like being a rookie again.

Yap took a break from his Rain or Shine stint to run as councilor in the City of San Juan, where he eventually won a seat in the city council.

"Feeling ko rookie ako," said Yap. "'Yung feeling na na-feel ko noong 2004 na kinakabahan, 'di ko alam kung kaya. I'm happy na winelcome ako nang maayos and sa mga fans, thank you sa kanila, kay Coach Yeng [Guiao] na binigyan ako ng chance ulit na makapaglaro ng basketball"

("I felt like a rookie again. The feeling that I had in 2004, nervous, unsure of myself. I'm happy that I was welcomed back, thank you to the fans, to Coach Yeng, that I was given the chance to play basketball again.")

Yap said he did all the extra work to prepare, especially now that he is 40 years old.

James Yap on his return to the PBA: Feeling ko rookie ako. 'Yung feeling na na-feel ko noong 2004 na kinakabahan, di ko alam kung kaya. I'm happy na winelcome ako nang maayos. | @jk_carandang pic.twitter.com/MDIr2J2IXv

— GMA Sports (@gmasportsph) January 22, 2023

"So far, okay naman. Three weeks straight akong nag-ensayo so talagang naghabol, extra workout, extra shooting lahat na lang ginagawa."

"Magpapa-massage para walang sasakit sa katawan, talagang aalagaan para walang biglang 'Uy may sasakit ah,'" Yap said in jest. "Kailangan na alagaan ang katawan."

("So far, it's okay. I practiced three weeks straight to catch up, did extra workouts, extra shooting, everything I could do... I'll need to get a massage so that I won't have those aches, take care of myself so I won't have those sudden pains. I need to take care of my body.")

Yap, however, did not play like a rookie in his return.

The two-time PBA MVP tallied 14 points, 12 of which came from the first half. However, the Elasto Painters fell to the Meralco Bolts, 105-87, in the opening game of the Governors' Cup.

"Hindi ko in-expect 'yun, sa akin is basta ipasok ako, ready ako," said Yap. "At least happy ako, 'yung mga pinaghirapan ko is nadala ko rito sa game na to."

("I didn't expect it. For me, I just wanted to be ready if I was brought into the game. I'm happy because I was able to carry into the game what I worked on.")

Even Meralco Bolts head coach Norman Black was in awe of Yap's performance.

"He's been gone so long I think they forgot how they play," Black said in jest. "We did not have a very good job of crowding him. He was taking pretty good looking shots and made it."

"He's James Yap. Enough said. Two-time MVP of the PBA, even at 40."

—JMB, GMA Integrated News