James Yap took to social media Thursday, June 24 to pay tribute to former president Noynoy Aquino, who died at the age of 61.
The PBA star expressed gratitude to Aquino, who was once his brother-in-law when the PBA star was married to television and movie personality Kris Aquino.
“Rest in peace President Noynoy Aquino. Thank you for being nice to me. You will be missed,” the Rain or Shine cager said on his Instagram account.
Yap campaigned heavily for Aquino during the latter’s successful presidential bid in 2010, attending several campaign sorties and wearing a yellow armband while playing for Purefoods.
That year also marked Yap’s second PBA Most Valuable Player award.
But 2010 also saw the split of Yap and Kris Aquino after a five-year marriage. Their son, Bimby Aquino-Yap, is known to have a close relationship with his uncle.
Yap and Noynoy did share a few light moments, like in 2009 when they teamed up as contestants of the then-hit ABS-CBN game show “Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal” hosted by Kris.
The Aquino family confirmed that the 15th president of the Republic, who held the highest seat of power from 2010 to 2016, died due to "renal disease secondary to diabetes."