The marital woes of basketball star James Yap and celebrity host-actress Kris Aquino have been the talk of the town. Kris was the first to confess publicly that, this time, her marriage was really on the rocks. Entertainment media went full blast on the controversy.
For weeks James remained silent until Showbiz Central interviewed him yesterday, August 29. First, the show aired the life story of the two-time Most Valuable Player (2005-06 and 2009-10) of the Philippine Basketball Association. Then he appeared live to answer questions by Showbiz Central host Pia Guanio.
For starters Pia asked, what has he got has that pumps up his fans whenever he plays?
Big Game James replied, "'Yun nga, talagang pagdating kasi sa court, e talagang naka-focus ka so, no reaction kasi. "Yun ang sinasabi nila sa akin na NR [no reaction] daw ako pag naka-shoot ako ng big shot. So, siguro iyon ang nagustuhan ng fans sa akin."
Facing trials in life doesn't seem to affect James whenever he's on the court. How does he do this?
"Iniisip ko talaga na ang mga tao na nanonood sa akin, e kailangan mapasaya ko sila kasi kumbaga, gusto ko talagang magbigay ng inspirasyon sa kanila, lalong lalo na sa mga bata," James said. "So, pagdating kasi sa problema, siyempre sa bahay doon ka nag-iisip. Pagdating sa court, iyon na lang iisipin mo, kung papaano mo sila mapasaya. Ang distraction talagang tanggalin sa isip mo."
It's only human to become distracted by problems. How does James vent it all out?
He smiled,"Ganoon ang ginagawa ko. doon ko na lang binubuhos...kumbaga, iyon na lang ang motivation. Kailangan ko talagang ma-prove ko sa sarili ko na kahit may problema ako, siyempre professional tayo at dapat hindi maapektuhan sa work natin."
BASKETBALL CAREER. James Yap hails from Escalante City, Negros Occidental. When he was growing up he never imagined that basketball would be his ticket to fame. He'd like the youth to remember his lowly beginnings and perhaps draw inspiration from there.
"Siyempre, parang hindi ko ma-imagine na...dati naglalaro lang ako sa semento, nadadapa ka at nakapaa ka lang," said James. "So, parang sobrang hindi ko ma-imagine kung saan ako ngayon. Gusto ko talaga makita ng kabataan iyon na kung saan ako nanggaling at kung saan ako ngayon. Gusto ko maisip nila iyon."
The great thing about being good in basketball is the chance to get scholarships from top colleges. James took advantage of that.
"As a basketball player and student, e kailangan mo talagang mag-sacrifice," said James. "Siyempre, hindi mo maiiwasan sa ensayo na sobrang nakakapagod. Kailangan mo din pumasok kasi iyon ang importante sa buhay natin, ang mag-aral."
Has his great career in basketball changed anything about himself?
"Kung ano ako dati, gaoon pa rin. Mahiyain," he admitted. "Hindi ako nagbago at doon na din nila ako nagustuhan siguro. Kung ano man na-achieve ko sa buhay, talagang hindi ako nagpapakita na ganoon ako, ganyan. Ganoon pa din pagkakakilala nila sa akin."
Showing that he is proud of his roots, he greeted the people of his hometown by saying, "Sobrang proud ako na galing akong Escalante. Happy ako na na-appreciate nila ako. Sobrang happy ako na galing akong Escalante."
ALL FOR BABY JAMES. Even with his hectic training for his basketball commitments, does James still have time to share with his Baby James?
"Gumagawa talaga ako ng effort na ilabas ang anak ko like mag-Timezone [videogames arcade] kami at dinner," James answered with a smile. When asked if Baby James is into basketball, too, his smile widened. "Sa tingin ko, mahilig! So, iyon din, nagmo-movie din kami."
How important is his family to him?
"Siyempre mahalagang-mahalaga. Mahal ko sila at mahal ko anak ko. Sa nangyayari, hindi naman natin maitatago, di ba, so pinagdarasal ko na lang ang mangyayari sa amin and si Lord na lang nakakaalam. Iniisip ko talaga na lahat ng ginagawa ko e, para kay Baby James, so lagi ko pang ginagalingan. Iba talaga [pag may inspirasyon]."
What are his plans right now?
"Bumalik at tapusin ang pag-aaral ko," James said. "Gusto ko din may matutunan ako para itong career ko sa basketball, e mag-business."
James continues his course in Business Management at the University of the East, mainly for the sake of Baby James's future.
"SAAN PAPA?" A short video showing pictures of James with his son brought the 6'3" basketball champ close to tears.
"Si Baby James kasi..." said James, "sobra [na-miss] talaga."
James had been separated from his son for two and a half weeks until the court granted him visitation rights. Pia asked, how does it feel to be reunited with Baby James?
"Sobrang excited ako hindi na ako makahintay after ng hearing namin ni Kris," said James. "Siyempre, nagpapa-thank you ako sa judge dahil maganda ang takbo. After talaga hindi na ako makapaghintay. Paglabas namin, ang daming tao..."
What did the father and son do when they saw each other?
James answered, "Bumili muna ako ng toy para sa kanya. Hindi din maiwasan na matagal din kami hindi nagkita so baka hindi lumapit sa akin. At least okay naman at noong nakita ako, sabi 'Papa...' Sobra ang pakiramdam ko ang sarap."
"Saan Papa?" asked Baby James as soon as he saw his dad. James said that his son's way of asking, "Saan ka galing, Papa?"
"Hindi ako nakasagot kaagad at hindi alam ang sasabihin," James related. "Later on, maiintindihan niya. May tamang oras kung kailan puwede sabihin."
What are his dreams for Baby James?
"Siyempre, iyong mayroon maipamana sa kanya at gusto ko mapursige ko ang ginagawa ko kasi lahat ito para kay Baby James. Sobrang iyon ang nasa isip ko. Talagang ang buhay ko 'andoon na kay baby James."
UNCLE'S ENCOURAGEMENT. Emmanuel Yap, James's uncle, was responsible for pushing his nephew's basketball career. In a phone interview with Showbiz Central, he related how he saw James's skill and drive to excel in the sport.
"Love niya talaga ang basketball," said Emmanuel. "Nine years old pa lang siya, nakita ko na iba siya maglaro. Halos lahat ng player gusto magpasikat, pero si James, iba, e. Pag naglaro siya, he just enjoys playing. Doon ko nakita."
So what can he say right now about James's shining career?
"I'm very happy and it was dream to watch him on TV," he said. "Sa Escalante, noong 12 years old siya, sabi ko, sisikat ang batang ito. He was so into basketball."
James was listening and gave his uncle a messsage of thanks.
"'To, talagang thank you sa iyo," James said. "Talagang from the start noong bata pa ako, hanggang ngayon nandiyan ka para sa akin at nag-guide sa akin. Thank you sa effort mo at hindi ko pa ano ibalik sa iyo. Parte ka sa success na ito sa buhay ko. Pag wala ka, wala din ako. Maraming salamat sa iyo. Salamat kaayo."
SURPRISE CALL. His uncle's message was special for James, but another call clearly suprised him.
With a big smile, James listened to his dad Caloy Yap's long message.
"Okay, nandito ako," Mr. Yap said cheerfully. "James, proud na proud kami sa iyo sa pagiging MVP mo. Kahit marami kang pinagdaanan ngayon, e manatili kang matibay at propesyonal. Manatili kang humble at magdasal sa Diyos. Nandito kami lagi sa likod mo, handang sumuporta sa lahat ng gawin mo. Mahal ka ng taga-Escalante at lalong-lalo na kami. Mahal na mahal ka namin. Good luck sa bakasyon mo at mag-ingat ka lagi."
James blurted that he never imagined his dad speaking a lot, knowing that he's not the usual talker. "Grabe, hindi ko ma-imagine si Papa!" laughed James. "Suprised ako, Pa! Mayroon ka palang tinatago, ha. Daghang salamat, Pa po. Proud na proud ako na kayo magulang ko...ngayon lang nagsabi si Papa ng ganoong bagay. Nanginginig ako...sobrang saya ako na nandiyan siya parati para sa akin. Ngayon talaga...Papa ko kasi sobrang tahimik at mas tahimik pa talaga kaysa sa akin."
James added that his dad isn't showy with his affection for him. He related that whenever he played, his dad would be just at the back, unobtrusive but all-out in his support.
"Ganoon siya kamahiyain, so hindi ko ini-expect na 'andoon siya, sobra," smiled James. "I love you, I love you talaga..."
TRUST IN GOD. With past and current issues surrounding him, James feels that the best move is for him to trust in God and face those issues.
"Maging matatag at sobrang lakasan ang loob," said James. "Basta alam mo sa sarili mo na kaya ito. So, lahat ng trials sa buhay ko, e lagi akong nagdadasal at iga-guide ako ni Lord sa tama."
There was news that James's other child from an earlier relationship was being pitted in the controversy between him and Kris. Rumor has it that the other child was being left out.
"Gusto ko lang linawin na ever since na bago pa lang kami ni Kris, e talagang sinabi ko na lahat sa kanya," explained James. "From the start, tahimik lang sila [his other child's family] at ayoko na silang idamay pa sa ganitong gulo. Nagpapa-thank you din ako sa nanay ng anak ko sa kabila kasi sobrang decent sila dahil hindi sila nakikisawsaw sa gulo. Thank you. Pagkakaalam ko, happy na siya dahil may asawa na sila ng husband nila. Thank you sa kanila. Iyon, sana maayos na lahat ito."
Does he still care for his other child?
"Anak ko pa rin iyon at hindi puwedeng kalimutan iyan," said James.
In the end, James expressed his thoughts on his present issues.
"Lahat ng pinagdadaanan ko ngayon, e kumbaga pinagdadasal ko na talaga dahil alam natin na si Lord ang nakakalaam nito," he said. "Sana maging maayos na lahat. Sa buhay ko, pinagdarasal ko at iga-guide naman niya [Lord] ako. Gusto ko magpasalamat sa lahat, sa mga kaibigan, coaches...sarap ng feeling na na-appreciate niyo ako bilang tao. Thank you talaga, pati sa family ko at sa sumusuporta. God bless sa lahat!"