By WAYLON GALVEZ
True to his promise, Rain or Shine star James Yap celebrated Christmas Day with his family in Italy.
But the happy reunion with four-year-old son Michael James and two-year-old daughter Francesca Michelle, as well as partner Michela Cazzola, almost did not happen due to travel restrictions brought by sudden surge of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Europe.
“Buti hindi ako naabutan ng travel ban, kasi nag-lockdown sila dito. Dito kapag travel ban per region, so hindi ka puwede tumawid or pumunta sa isang region… tapos Christmas Day lockdown kaya hindi puwede lumabas.”
The government of Italy has reportedly issued travel bans and lockdowns due to sudden surge of cases of a new variant of COVID-19 in Europe and in other parts of the globe.
For the meantime, he wants to make up for the lost time after playing in the PBA bubble.
“Sobrang saya kasi nakabalik ako dito and naka-spend ng Christmas with them. Alam naman din nila na babalik ako, and dito ako magpasko. Kung hindi natuloy… lungkot siempre,” said Yap, who arrived in Milano Marittima two days before Christmas Day.
The 6-foot-2 Yap, a two-time Most Valuable Player in the PBA and one of the league’s 40 Greatest Players, told Manila Bulletin-Tempo that he was able to pull off a few surprises on his children on Christmas eve.
Aside from the gifts he gave, he also dressed up in Santa Claus costume.
“Sobrang tuwa nung mga bata kasi talagang naka-costume ako ng Santa… hindi gaano ako humaharap sa kanila naka-tagilid lang ako pagpasok ko sa pinto kasi nga baka makilala nila na ako pala yung Santa,” said Yap.
“Kaya after ko mabigay yung mga gifts nila alis na agad ako. Pero sobrang saya talaga kasi yung makita mo sila na masaya iba din. Ilang months ko lang sila hindi nakita pero so Bugoy (Michael James) lumaki, si Francesca mas nagsasalita na… na-miss ko sila.”
Yap spent more than three months with his family in Italy when they left the country in early June after getting approval from ROS team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que.
Yap plans to return next month as the league intends to start its season in April.
In the league’s restart, the 38-year-old Yap averaged 7.10 points and 2.10 rebounds in 11 games, helping the franchise reach the quarterfinal round as the eighth seeded team.
ROS lost to top seed and eventual champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
