PBA superstar James Yap of Rain or Shine has been allowed to return home to his residence in Alabang after he got a negative result on a swab test for COVID-19 upon arrival from Italy last Thursday.
The two-time PBA Most Valuable Player was tested right after he flew in as part of the government’s safety protocols in trying to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
He received the result last Friday.
“Thankful na negative siempre, uwi na ako sa bahay,” said Yap in a telephone interview Sunday with Manila Bulletin. “Mas maganda na maka-stay sa bahay kesa sa hotel.”
Yap said he went straight to a hotel, which is now part of the government’s quarantine guidelines due to COVID-19 for individuals returning from another country.
However, Yap said he needs to complete a 14-day home quarantine – a guideline under the PBA’s own safety protocols – before he could join the Elasto Painters in training.
The 14-day quarantine started when he received the swab result.
“That’s the rule sa PBA, so sunod lang tayo. Medyo matagal na antayan uli before maka-join sa ensayo ng team, pero ganun talaga, kailangan stay home and tapusin yung 14 days,” said Yap.
“Habang bahay tuloy lang yung pagpapa-condition para pag dating sa gym, adjustment na lang ng konti sa shooting drills and other workout na kailangan gawin with the team.”
Yap, if given the green light, would join the team practice every Monday-Wednesday-Friday from 8 to 9 in the morning at the Reyes gymnasium in Mandaluyong City.
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A member of the 40 Greatest Players in the PBA, Yap is in the first group of ROS players with teammates Jewel Ponferada, Norbert Torres and Sidney Onwubere under assistant coach Chris Gavina.
He left in early June for Milano Marittima, Italy with fiancée Michela Cazzola together with their four-year-old son Michael James and two-year-old daughter Francesca Michelle due to “family matters."
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The league resumed practice session for 12 teams two weeks ago as approved by the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) Group composed of the Games and Amusements Board, Philippine Sports Commission and Department of Health (DOH).
s that goal to have the games back.
After games were suspended following the opening of the 45th PBA Season last March 8, league officials are hoping to resume with the Philippine Cup, with the ‘cluster type’ practice sessions the first step toward having actual games resumed.