Artadi, Yap stars in their own right

By the time they joined this year’s Philippine Basketball Association rookie draft, jaded observers readily proclaimed that James Yap and Paul Artadi will blossom into stardom.

Halfway through their first season, the Purefoods teammates had already shown impressive signs and their inclusion among the casts of starters in next weekend’s All-Star game in Cebu City is a strong testament of their bright future.

"Masaya ako and I’m very thankful to the fans that I’m here," said Yap.

Starting side by side with the likes of Asi Taulava and Eric Menk, Yap, born in Escalante, Negros Occidental, is excited to prove his worth.

"Ito ‘yung mga players na napapanood mo lang dati pero ngayon kakampi mo na. S’yempre matindi ‘yung anticipation," Yap adds.

Paul Artadi, Yap’s backcourt partner in Purefoods, will also be starting but on the opposing side with the North team.

"Very flattering ‘to kasi, biruin mo, rookie lang kami pero magsa-start pa kami. Siguro nadala na rin namin ‘yung mga fans namin from college," Artadi reveals.

Artadi, like Yap, is not starstruck; instead he looks forward to playing alongside his heroes in the league’s mid-season offering sponsored by Talk N Text and supported by Gran Matador Brandy, Accel, Viva Mineral Water, Air 21, McDonalds and Cebu Pacific.

"Ito ‘yung mga dating idol namin kaya hindi namin sasayangin ‘tong chance to show that we can play with the best."

Artadi adds: "Para sa’kin I’m going to do this for the fans. Sabi nga ni coach, ‘wag dapat laro na pangsarili, dapat laro namin para sa mga fans."

Also playing in their first All-Star Games are the South team’s Sonny Thoss of Alaska, Junthy Valenzuela of Red Bull, John Ferriols of FedEx, Dale Singson of San Miguel, Shell’s Ronald Tubid and rookie teammate Rich Alvarez, who will be starting for the North team.

On the opposite side of the age spectrum is Vergel Meneses. The 1995 Most Valuable Player is playing in his ninth All-Star game — a feat matched by Kenneth Durdemdes of Sta. Lucia, who will be starting in the North team.

During that span, Meneses copped the All-Star Game MVP four times — in 1995, 1998, 2000 and 2002.

Among the faces seeing action in Cebu City, the only other former All-Star Game MVP is Duremdes. He took the trophy in 1996.