Rain or Shine in ‘full support’ of James Yap’s election bid

Rain or Shine’s James Yap. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine head coach Chris Gavina said the team has James Yap’s back in the star swingman’s bid for a council seat in San Juan City.

Yap filed his certificate of candidacy on Tuesday, running under the banner of incumbent mayor Francis Zamora in the coming 2022 elections.

“We are in full support of James’ political aspirations and hoping that he can find a balance between getting prepared for his campaign and the required time he needs to prepare himself for our upcoming conference,” Gavina told INQUIRER.net.

Throwing his hat into politics doesn’t automatically mean that the 39-year-old Yap is retiring from the PBA where he has played since being selected second overall by Purefoods in the 2004 draft.

Yap also informed the PBA about his political ambition with commissioner Willie Marcial supportive of it.

His former teammates Don Allado and Paul Artadi are also gunning for councilor under the same ticket. Artadi is going for a third straight term after already been elected in 2016 and 2019.

Yap, a four-time Finals MVP and two-time regular season MVP, averaged 7.9 points in seven games for Rain or Shine in the 2021 Philippine Cup. He’s won seven PBA titles all with Purefoods.

The Elasto Painters made the quarterfinals where they were eliminated by the Magnolia Hotshots last Thursday.