Fans of basketball star James Yap congratulated him on Instagram after his Italian girlfriend Michela Cazzola gave birth to a baby boy at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bomifacio, Global City in Taguig City last August 8 at 6:55 p.m.
“Congratulations! We can’t wait to see baby Michael James,” a fan posted on Instagram.
“Congratz James for a Baby Boy,” another post said.
“Congratulations. We’re happy for the both of you,” an IG message said.
The news was initially reported by ABS-CBN news anchor Ginger Conejero last Aug. 8.
This is the first baby for both Yap and Cazzola. But it is the third child for the cager who plays for Star Hotshots basketball team. Yap has a child by Kris Aquino and another one from his previous girlfriend.
In February, Cazzola confirmed that she was pregnant. In June, Yap revealed the name of their baby boy.
Yap told Conejero in a previous interview that he is excited to be a father for the third time.
“Siyempre excited, happy ako kasi maiuuwi ko siya,” he said of his son.
“Nakita ko rin naman ‘yung sa iba pero makakasama ko kasi ito, makikita ko ang bawa’t galaw,” Yap said.
The two-time Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player (PBA-MVP) is hoping that Bimby, his son by Aquino, will meet his baby boy.
“Anytime na gusto ni Bim makilala ang kanyang bagong kapatid, welcome na welcome siya sa bahay,” Yap added.
Yap, 34, has been in a relationship with Cazzola since 2012 after the annulment of his marriage with Aquino.
Cazzola is an Italian who works as an executive at the Asian Development Bank in Mandaluyong City.
In an Instagram post on Feb. 25, Aquino said that it was best for her to “just keep quiet” about the issue of Cazzola’s pregnancy and that their son Bimby was okay. “That’s what matters to me.”