James Yap suffers calf strain in Star loss to San Miguel

MANILA, Philippines – Star veteran James Yap suffered what was initially diagnosed as a right calf strain, he said Sunday, March 27.

The 34-year-old left the game with still 3:50 left to play in the third quarter, with the Hotshots trailing 58-78 against the San Miguel Beermen in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Yap explained he felt a pop as he moved to run after receiving a pass near the halfcourt line. He limped as his teammates helped him to the bench and did not return.

“He (coach Jason Webb) asked me if I could still play and I said I couldn’t anymore,” Yap told reporters in Filipino after the 117-98 rout. “When I could, I always play through it. But when it popped I couldn’t move it anymore.”

Yap finished with 17 points and made 3 of his 6 triple attempts to go with two assists in almost 27 minutes of play. All of his points came in the first half.

“Masarap na sana, sarap na ng feeling pero ganoon talaga basketball. Hindi mo malalaman kung ano mangyayari (It felt good already but that’s basketball. You don’t know what could happen),” he rued. 

“Malungkot lang kasi first time ako maka-feel ng ganito, medyo malala (It’s sad because this is the first time I felt something like this, it’s a bit serious).”

The swingman will have his injury checked on Monday, March 28, by renowned doctor Raul Canlas.

Despite being down 3 men (June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Ronald Tubid), the Beermen still proved too much for the Hotshots with import Tyler Wilkerson and guard Marcio Lassiter combining for 14 triples.

San Miguel pulled away in the third and never looked back.

Star next faces Alaska on Saturday, April 2, in Davao City. – Rappler.com