REY Nambatac and Javee Mocon considered themselves fortunate to be with Rain or Shine and play alongside their basketball idol.
The two young guns admitted being star-strucked in their first ever practice with the franchise after finally being in the same basketball court with two-time PBA MVP James Yap.
Nambatac and Mocon were both thrilled as Yap welcomed them at Rain or Shine one season after the other.
Both are avid fans of the 38-year-old pride of Escalante, Negros Occidental as what they revealed in the latest Kamustahan episode of the PBA.
It helped that Yap was friendly and very accommodating which defies his superstar status.
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"Si Manong (Yap) kasi idol ko talaga yan since elementary pa ako. And first day of practice ko (sa Rain or Shine), kinausap niya agad ako," said Nambatac, a first round pick of the Elasto Painters in 2017. "Nabulol ako, hindi ako nakapag-salita ng maayos."
"Sa isip ko, 'ito na ba yun.' Sa isip ko, 'panaginip lang yata ito.'
Nambatac even remembered having his picture taken with Yap while he was still in high school with Letran and the veteran gunner then the main man of Purefoods.
Mocon came a year after, also as a first round pick of the team. And like Nambatac, he also received a warm welcome from his idol.
As a tribute to 'Big Game' James, the sophomore wingman out of San Beda even tried to do one of Yap's signature one-hander move.
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He would realize later on how difficult doing the act.
"Tinignan ko talaga at parang ang dali lang sa kanya. Pero pag ginawa mo sa sarili mo na, sobrang hirap pala," said Mocon, who strikes a similar resemblance with Yap.
As they found out, Yap was not only a great player, but likewise a great person, too.
"Sinabi niya sa akin (in Bisaya) na pagbutihin ko raw at hindi naman daw ganoon kahirap ang practice namin (Elasto Painters) kasi professional na nga raw (kami)," Nambatac recalled of Yap's early advice to him.
"At huli niyang sinabi sa akin, iga-guide niya raw ako para madali akong makapag-adjust," added the native of Cagayan De Oro.
Indeed, the two didn't make a mistake who to idolize. (RG)
