AT 42, James Yap is already running the last lap of his storied basketball career.
The two-time Most Valuable Player has been playing in the PBA for 20 years now and he knows that sooner or later, he is going to hang his jersey for good.
Yap, however, has been preparing for his life after basketball and may be heading into the direction of being a businessman and a public servant. He has already entered the world of politics, being a city councilor in San Juan's first district, but as an entrepreneur, he is still trying to learn the ropes.
And what better way to learn about business than from Dioceldo Sy, a respected leader and player in the industry.
Sy owns the Blackwater franchise, the team Yap is currently playing in the PBA.
In an interview at The Manila Times "PrimeTimes with Atty. Lia," Sy raved about Yap's eagerness to learn about the trade. Yap even joins Sy in his meetings for the PBA veteran to pick up a lesson or two.
"He's the one of the easiest guys to talk to. In fact, lately I've been going out on a lot of teams, he's joining me in my meetings," said Sy, referring to Yap who co-owns a restaurant named "District 8 Gastropub" in San Juan.
"One time he said 'boss, can you help me mentor my life after basketball?' And that's why I bring him up to my meetings and he can join. He listens, he learns so that's why I like about him, he's a willing learner at 42," said Sy.
"Even if he's a city councilor, you can't see that, he's just like my eldest son."
Yap's humility is one of the traits that made Sy take a chance on the veteran player.
Sy knows that Yap, a 7-time PBA champion and an 18-time All-Star, is no longer enjoying the superstar status that he once had, but he's still James Yap. Yap's name being tied to Blackwater and his veteran leadership to the youthful Bossing team is immeasurable.
"I know he's on a retirement stage already but there are two things [why I signed him]: no. 1 is marketability, the brand equity he'll bring to the team plus the leadership," said Sy of Yap, who signed a one-year contract with his team.
"I know him for 25 years, he hasn't changed. He's still the same humble guy. He came into the team with respect. He was the one who approached the players. There's no arrogance about him."
Extra basket
Did you know that Dioceldo Sy was one of the people who discovered James Yap who hails from Escalante, Negros Occidental?
Sy first recruited him to play for the Tanduay junior team in the defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL).
Sy fondly recalled that Yap only had one request to join Tanduay, a pair of size 13 shoes.
"Not many of you know that I'm one of the first [people] who discovered James Yap, when he was 17, 18, out of Iloilo school (Iloilo Central Commercial High School). I saw him, I asked my team manager to approach him. He has only one wish or one condition, just give him a pair of size 13 shoes to play for my PBL junior team," said Sy.
"Immediately, we looked around Manila. I couldn't find a size 13 but I'm so fortunate my old friend Bong Tan because he owns PAL (Philippine Airlines). In a week, he got two pairs of size 13 shoes from San Francisco. That's how he ended up with Tanduay in the PBL junior team."
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