Yassi Pressman ‘nervous’ about potential primetime clash with Coco Martin

Yassi Pressman as Bane —GMA PUBLIC AFFAIRS

As the premiere of GMA Public Affairs’ upcoming primetime action drama series, “Black Rider,” nears, Yassi Pressman admitted that she feels the pressure, especially since the show will be going up against her former costar Coco Martin’s “Batang Quiapo.”“Of course, there’s big pressure. Sobrang kinakabahan,” Yassi told the Inquirer at a recent press conference.

“But we just need to do our best and put our hearts into the show. I can only hope that people end up loving the characters and enjoying the story,” said Yassi, who plays a petty thief named Bane, whose life gets intertwined with lead character Elias (Ruru Madrid), a motorcycle rider for a delivery app.

Yassi doesn’t see the potential head-to-head as a competition, but as fuel to improve and perform. “It’s a challenge for the cast and staff to improve every day, to improve our story, to do better,” said Yassi, who last appeared in a GMA 7 soap back in 2014.

When the show was offered to her by GMA Public Affairs, all she knew was that it was going to be slated for primetime.

But when she found out that it was going to be put in the same time slot as “Batang Quiapo,” she went out of her way to seek the blessing of ABS-CBN executives. She also sent her regards to Coco, whom she worked with for five years in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.”

Time for work again

“I’m grateful to everyone. I’m grateful that I get to work with people I want to work with,” said Yassi, who will always remain grateful to Coco. “Marami siyang naitulong sa ‘kin.”

Asked if she was worried about potential bashers, she stressed that network wars are a thing of the past. “The network bosses say so themselves. Galing na rin mismo sa kanila,” she said. This is a good opportunity for all actors and creatives to work with each other.”

And at the end of the day, Yassi is just thankful to have another job, another blessing. “I have been on a break for so long, so it’s time for me to work again,” she said. “We have to work for our families.” INQ