Blackwater's James Yap during the PBA Media Day, August 8, 2024. PBA ImagesMANILA — PBA legend James Yap officially started his bid for his second term as a councilor of San Juan City's 1st District.

The 42-year-old athlete-turned-politician filed his Certificate of Candidacy on Tuesday morning while being accompanied by his peers. 

"Actually ako lang, kasi yung sister ko - dito based, pero nanganak siya eh kaya wala akong kasama ngayon," shared Yap, who previously won a seat in the council of San Juan's first district in the 2022 National elections.

"Mga 'Yapsters' lang ang kasama ko so nandito sila para suportahan ako. Yung mga bata may pasok din so ako lang muna," he added.

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The Blackwater Bossing guard, who garnered 21,427 votes in 2022 to get his spot as a first-time politician back then, said that his priority for now is his responsibility as a public servant.

"Sa totoo lang, nahirapan talaga ako na ipagsabay yung basketball at politics. Nagsa-suffer talaga yung basketball ko. Ngayon focus ako sa politics, kausapin ko yung [Blackwater] management," said James, whose projects will include helping the youth of San Juan by giving allowance and scholarships to deserving students.

"Ayaw ko naman na magsho-show up ako sa basketball, mas gusto ko rin namang kondisyon ka. Eh hindi ako nakapag-practice ng mabuti so kausapin ko muna yung management na talagang 110% na focus muna ako dito sa pagtakbo ko as councilor sa 2nd term," added Yap, who also expressed how he is not completely closing his doors in playing professionally.

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Yap previously moved to Blackwater after spending almost eight years with the Rain Or Shine ElastoPainters. He, however, did not see action for the Bossing in their Season 49 Governors' Cup campaign. 

Meanwhile, the former PBA MVP also touched briefly on his personal life.

Yap said that his partner Michela Cazzola didn't accompany him as she was fetching their kids at school, and that he has also not been able to see his son James 'Bimby' Aquino Yap with former wife Kris Aquino. 

"Wala na, 10 years, so okay lang yun," Yap said.