By REYNALD MAGALLON
Blackwater has decided to part ways with playmaker Baser Amer but is set to immediately plug the hole left by the veteran guard with the pending addition of two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap.
The 41-year-old Yap is expected to provide the veteran presence to a young Bossing squad.
Yap also became a free agent a week ago after getting his release from Rain or Shine where he played for the last eight years since the blockbuster trade that involved him and Paul Lee in 2016.
Blackwater is set to sign Yap to a one-year deal on Friday, Feb. 9.
Amer and Blackwater have decided to move on separate ways after failing to agree on a contract extension allowing the heady playmaker free to become free agent and free to sign to whichever team he likes
Amer’s contract expired at the end of 2023 but both parties decided to play through the remainder of Commissioner’s Cup before sitting on the extension talks.
Hounded by injuries, Amer failed to make an immediate impact for Blackwater in his first few months before finally blossoming as one of the team’s leaders during the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup.
The seventh overall pick of the 2015 draft averaged 18.8 points during that conference but a calf injury put a quick end to the splendid run. Baser would never regain his footing from there as he has been in and out of the Blackwater lineup, even only playing three games in this season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Among rumored suitors to the services of Amer is NLEX who is being handled by Frankie Lim, the veteran guard’s coach at San Beda.
