By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense gunner James Carlos Yap of the Blackwater Bossing expressed excitement about the PBA’s implementation of the four-point shot in the Governors’ Cup beginning on August 18.
According to the two-time PBA MVP winner, he is hoping that he will be the first PBA player to convert from the 27-foot arc, which was first tested during the PBA All-Star Weekend in Passi City, Iloilo last year and in Bacolod City earlier this year.
“Ako din excited ako eh, sana ako unang maka-shoot,” Yap said during the PBA Media Day.
“Pero ang may advantage dito ‘yung mga long-range shooters, ‘yung mga malalakas ang pulso. May mga shooters kasi na short lang ‘yung range,” he said.
“Depende rin kasi ‘yan sa pulso ng shooter, kapag malakas ang pulso mo, makaka-shoot ka, pero kung maigsi lang ‘yung shooting mo, mahihirapan ka talaga, kasi maiiba ‘yung shooting mo eh,” he added.
The Negros Occidental’s Escalante City-native Yap added that it is just normal for the league’s bashers to criticize the four-point shot, but he sees that more basketball fans are interested in it.
“Subukan natin bago eh, exciting. Syempre madaming excited na mga players, madami ring side comments, ganun talaga pero, at least, may aabangan ang mga fans. Mayroong mga fans na against, mayroon ding hindi, ganun talaga,” Yap said.
“At least, kung mag-work man, nauna tayo, kasi naman ginagawa naman natin ito sa [PBA] All-Star. Kapag naka-shoot ka ng four-points, naghihiyawan ‘yung mga tao. For me, karamihan ng [mga] tao nae-excite sa four-point shot,” he added.
The 42-year-old Yap said he is excited about going to his 20th season in the PBA, as the Bossing have a promising roster, led by rookies Sedrick Barefield and fellow Negrense Miggy Corteza.
“Excited kasi madaming bago. May mga rookies na talented, especially ‘yung mga nakuha namin, magaling, magaling, promising. So excited ako sa Blackwater Bossing, stay healthy lang talaga,” Yap said.
“‘Yun lang [naman ang ginagawa ko], pakondisyon, tapos ingatan mo ‘yung katawan mo. ‘Yung kahit busy ka, kung may time ka na pwedeng maisingit ‘yung workout, kasi nasa stage tayo na hindi na tayo bumabata, so kailangan ingatan,” he added./ASC, WDJ