MANILA -- Star cager James Yap chose to be brief in addressing the current state of his "love life," following his publicized relationship with an Italian woman early this year.
The 31-year-old basketball player was asked on the topic at the sidelines of a recent press conference held early this week by a sports store he endorses.
"Basta masasabi ko lang... masaya ako. Masaya na tapos na lahat ng problema, sana wala nang mangyari. Pagdating sa mga gano'ng bagay -- love life -- happy tayo," he said.
Although he only started hinting at his romantic relationship in June through photos on Instagram, Yap and his Italian girlfriend, Michela Cazzola, have been a couple for more than a year now.
Cazzola is a secretariat specialist at the Asian Development Bank in the Philippines. She is no stranger to the country, as her father also worked here for a time.
Yap's going public with his relationship with Cazzola came after a series of controversies involving him and his former wife, actress-host Kris Aquino, and their only child, James "Bimby" Yap, Jr.
Aquino and Yap were married in civil rites in July 2005. Their marriage was declared null in February last year, following allegations of infidelity on Yap's part.
Referring to a tumultuous first half of the year, which saw him face Aquino in court numerous times, Yap said, "Sana wala nang gulo na darating sa buhay ko. Masaya ako dahil tapos na lahat, at pinag-pe-pray ko na hindi na maulit 'yung nangyari sa akin. Kumbaga, sana makapag-focus na ako sa ginagawa ko, na basketball player."
Now past the worst controversy to hit him so far, is settling down anew in the near future for Yap? "Wala pa. Gaya nang sabi ko, wala pa sa isip ko ang kasal-kasal," he said.
As for having another baby, Yap quipped, "Yari tayo diyan! Relax!"
