JAMES Yap, at 42, is set for a memorable PBA All-Star Weekend right in his home province of Negros Occidental.
The pride of the city of Escalante is flying from Manila to Bacolod Friday and, barring hitches, will play before his provincemates his record-setting 18th All-Star Game on Sunday.
At the moment, the Blackwater Bossing star is tied with Asi Taulava with the most number of All-Star Game appearances with 17, one ahead of Alvin Patrimonio.
On Sunday at the University of St. La Salle Gym, Yap makes history as he joins Team Mark going up against Team Japeth in the main highlight of the annual midseason spectacle presented by Arena Plus in its second edition in the post-pandemic period.
With Yap and Mark Barroca in their team to be handled by coach Jorge Gallent are June Mar Fajardo, Jason Perkins, CJ Perez, Robert Bolick, Jio Jalalon, Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Ricci Rivero, Cliff Hodge, Juami Tiongson and Nards Pinto.
Sponsored content: The other team will be composed of skipper Japeth Aguilar and teammates Christian Standhardinger, Paul Lee, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Don Trollano, Marcio Lassiter, Arvin Tolentino, Maverick Ahanmisi, Stanley Pringle, Terrence Romeo, RR Pogoy and Aris Dionisio. Handling Team Japeth is Tim Cone.
Among the league's greatest players of all time, Yap's sterling career is marked by an All-Star MVP award in 2012 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte and two victories in the All-Star Three-Point Shootout.
In Bacolod, the former University of the East hotshot will also shoot for another plum in the three-point contest during the All-Star Saturday.
There will be two sides of three-point shooting competition in the 2024 All-Star Extravaganza, one among bigs and the other among guards and wings.
Yap banners the cast among smaller players. He competes with defending champion Paul Lee, Maverick Ahanmisi, Alec Stockton, Chris Newsome, Robbie Herndon, Arvin Tolentino, Ken Tuffin, Andrei Caracut, Marcio Lassiter, Javi Gomez de Liano and Calvin Oftana.
Sponsored content: Bigs vying in the shootout are Jason Perkins, Brandon Ganuelas Rosser, James Laput, Sean Anthony, JM Calma, June Mar Fajardo, Isaac Go, Keith Zaldivar, Ralph Cu, Christian David, Raymond Almazan and Santi Santillan.
For sure, the home crowd will be cheering for Yap. (SB)
