TWO-TIME Most Valuable Player James Yap became the latest Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player to join the political fray in San Juan after he filed his certificate of candidacy on Tuesday morning for a council seat in the city’s First District.
And in the event that the 17-year PBA veteran wins, he’ll still be playing for Rain or Shine.
“I got Commissioner Willie’s [Marcial] permission and also those of team owners Terry Que and Raymond Yu, they are supporting my bid,” Yap, 39, told BusinessMirror.
Yap is hoping to join Paul Artadi, his teammate at University of the East, who is seeking a third term as councilor also in San Juan’s First District. Artadi retired playing for Blackwater in 2014.
Don Allado, who last donned a Purefoods jersey in 2015, is again trying to win a council seat in District 2. He lost in the previous elections.
All three are running under the PDP Laban Party of fellow basketball player Francis Zamora, who is seeking a second term as mayor. Zamora, a 6-foot-5 center, won two University Association of the Philippines titles with De La Salle and also two crowns for Welcoat in the defunct Philippine Basketball League.
He was drafted by Sta. Lucia in 2001 but was unsigned.
Yap averaged 7.40 points and 1.80 rebounds in the Philippine Cup eliminations in Bacolor, Pampanga. Magnolia eliminated his team in the quarterfinals.
He is expected to fly to Urbino, Italy, on Friday to be with his family.
“I need to visit my wife and my kids because I will be very busy in the next few months,” he said.
Yap has two kids with Italian wife Michela Cazzola—five-year-old Michael James and three-year-old Francesca.
Yap said he expects an extension of his three-year contract with Rain or Shine that expires at the end of this season.