James Yap admitted feeling the nerves in his first game back in the PBA after a three-conference hiatus.
The 40-year-old two-time league Most Valuable Player even compared the feeling to what he experienced back when he was still a rookie playing for the first time in 2004.
“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 and sa mga fans, thank you sa kanila, kay Coach Yeng (Guiao) na binigyan ako ng chance ulit na makapaglaro ng basketball,” said Yap.
Yap took a break from basketball when he ran for public office and won as councilor in San Juan. The veteran player expressed his interest to return at the start of the season and since then, has been in training with Rain or Shine before signing for a one-conference deal.
“So far, okay naman. Three weeks straight akong nag-ensayo so talagang naghabol, extra workout, extra shooting lahat na lang ginagawa,” recalled Yap.
“Magpapa-massage para walang sasakit sa katawan, talagang aalagaan para walang biglang 'Uy may sasakit ah'. Kailangan na alagaan ang katawan,” he added.
In what could be the start to the swan song of his colorful career, Yap certainly didn’t look like he left as everything worked out for him in his first stint back on the PBA hardcourt.
He even looked poised for a big night, quickly reminding everyone what he can do when the ball is in his hands after dropping 12 points in the second quarter, capped by a booming triple to beat the halftime buzzer that tied all up, 54-all at the break.
"Hindi ko in-expect 'yun, sa akin is basta ipasok ako, ready ako. At least happy ako, 'yung mga pinaghirapan ko is nadala ko rito sa game na to,” he said.
Yap though cooled down in the second half as Meralco, behind the 27-point and 23-rebound performance of import KJ McDaniels, played a spoiler in the former's return unleashing a third-quarter rally that established a double-digit spread it managed to protect the rest of the way.
Still, even Bolts head coach Norman Black was left in awe with how Yap played in his return.
“He's been gone so long I think they forgot how they play. 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,” said the champion mentor.