CLARK FREEPORT – It’s so strange seeing James Yap with bulging muscles in both arms and sporting a buff physique.
But that’s the new look the two-time PBA MVP shows off in the PBA season restart, which he hopes would help him avoid suffering injuries and be in top form during the two-month stretch of the Philippine Cup.
The 38-year-old Yap admitted doing a lot of weights in the weeks leading up to the resumption of the lone conference for the year.
“Back to zero kasi alam naman natin na almost eight months tayo hindi nakapaglaro,” said the veteran wingman on Sunday. “Kailangan talaga alagaan natin yung ating katawan kasi matagal-tagal tayong natengga.”
Yap stayed in Italy for about three months together with his wife Michela Cazzola and their two children. And during that three-month period, he admitted being hooked on pasta and pizza, with wines on the side.
The native of Esacalante, Negros Occidental admitted gaining some weight during that stretch.
But Yap said he shed weight as soon as team scrimmages began two weeks ago, just right for him to get back in his regular playing condition by the time the Elasto Painters kickoff their campaign on Tuesday against five-time defending champion San Miguel.
“Nasa stage ako ngayon na nagti-trim down na ako,” he pointed out.