Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) fans are still getting used to the sight of James Yap wearing the vibrant orange threads of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Even Yap’s former coach, Tim Cone, says he still finds it strange to see Yap wearing another uniform.
ABS-CBN Sports recalled: “Yap won multiple PBA championships — including a Grand Slam — with Cone back when they were both with the Purefoods franchise, although they have now since moved on from their former team. Cone now coaches Ginebra, while Yap was sent to Rain or Shine in a blockbuster trade over the offseason that saw Paul Lee move to the Star Hotshots.”
On Sun, Dec 4, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters faced off for the first time in the 2016-17 PBA Philippine Cup against Cone’s Gin Kings at the Mall of Asia Arena. Ginebra won over Rain or Shine, 81-74.
Cone was quoted as saying, “He was wearing a different uniform. That’s really strange.”
For his part, Yap said, “Siyempre, nakaka-miss din si Coach Tim. Iba rin ‘yung pinagdaanan namin. Nanalo ako ng Grand Slam kasama siya. Magaling din si Coach Tim, magaling. Pero ganyan talaga ang buhay (Of course, I miss Coach Tim. We went through a lot. I won a Grand Slam with him. Coach Tim is really good. But life is like that).”
Well, let’s hope Yap and Cone continue to stay friends no matter what teams they work for.
