Pingris, Simon find it 'awkward' playing vs longtime teammate James Yap

MANILA, Philippines — They all wore identical jerseys for more than a decade, and Sunday night was the first time PJ Simon and Marc Pingris played against James Yap.

And the two members of the Star Hotshots can’t help but noted that it was, indeed, an odd feeling locking horns with Yap.

“Napaka-awkward,” Simon told the press. “Halos 13 years na kami dapat magkasama. Halos everyday kami ‘yung magkabantayan sa practice. Hindi ko talaga inexpect na darating ‘yung araw na magbabantayan kami sa PBA.”

Yap was shipped to Rain or Shine in October for superstar guard Paul Lee, breaking a partnership between Pingris and Simon that has spanned for more than a decade.

Pingris had the same exact word for it. Playing alongside Yap for roughly 12 years, he found it odd that he had to guard someone he won multiple championships with. But he noted that it’s just how things are in the PBA.

Pingris (middle) jokingly bothers Yap during the latter's trip to the foul line.

“Alam naman ni James na trabaho lang ‘to,” he said. “Pero sa labas naman, magkakaibigan naman parin kami. Expected na ‘yung [movement] kasi kaming players naman, hindi namin alam hanggang kailan kami sa isang team eh.”

The Hotshots were the ones who went home with smiles on their faces. They secured their third straight victory in the Philippine Cup after dropping their first two games at the expense of the now Yap-led Rain or Shine.

Billed as one of the must-see matches before the year ends, the tussle didn’t disappoint. The Hotshots and Elasto Painters figured in 13 ties and 11 lead changes. It was only until the final two minutes of the payoff period when one team appeared as the clear winner.

“Sabi ko naman sa kanya, enjoyin lang ‘yung game and may the best man win,” Simon shared. “Laruin na namin, Wala naman masyadong pressure.”

And just like Simon, Pingris was perplexed as entered the game. But it he, too, knows it’s just business.

“Nakamove on na si James,” he said. “Alam kong happy na si James sa sitwasyon niya. Then happy na rin kami na dumagdag si Paul Lee.”

“Usap-usap kami kanina before tha game pero during, wala na. Talagang kailangan, trabaho lang kami,” he added.

But if there’s one person among the three who have had the most adjustment, it would probably be Yap. For starters, he was the one who was traded away, leaving his famed “Big Three” that won seven PBA championships together.

“Medyo.” he said of difficulty in acclimating with the new environment and wrapping his head around the idea of taking on his former teammates.

 “Pero ganun talaga. Wala naman tayong magagawa doon. Gan’un ang basketball. Nagbabantayan kami kanina, then mamaya magkakasama kami sa ‘Big 3’ na event.”

The trio will temporarily set their basketball differences aside as they are headed for a night of thanksgiving with their longtime fans at the Flying-V Arena in San Juan.