By Adrian Stewart Co
While he is excited with the impending restart of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters veteran James Yap admitted that it will take some time for him to get back on track condition-wise.
The Escalante City, Negros Occidental-native said that the over six months of break due to the coronavirus disease 2019, or Covid-19, is just too lengthy for a player like him who is on late 30s.
“Medyo masyado lang matagal, kaya kakalawangin ka rin,” said Yap. “‘Yung pandemic sana one month lang kasi advantage sa akin ‘yun para makapagpahinga ‘yung katawan ko.”
“Ito ilang months na, for me hindi maganda sa tingin ko, sa basa ng katawan ko. Kailangan mo kasing palakakasin din lahat ng parts ng katawan mo,” he added.
The two-time PBA MVP awardee admitted he was already in good physical shape and ready to play again for the March 8 start of the Philippine Cup but it was postponed due to the pandemic.
“Hahanapin mo pa rin ‘yung naglalaro ka. Ilang months na e, siyempre limited din ‘yung workouts mo, hindi nawo-workout lahat ng mga na-injured sa iyo before. Kumbaga humihina rin ‘yun, e,” Yap said.
The PBA is set to restart its Philippine Cup inside a bubble in Clark, Pampanga on October 11./ASC, WDJ